Ecclestone involved in FIA's Honda U-turn

Jan.23 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he was involved in the FIA's U-turn over allowing Honda into the new 2015 engine 'unfreeze'.

Initially, the governing body had locked McLaren's new works partner out of the decision to let 2014 suppliers Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault deploy their development 'tokens' beyond a start-of-season deadline.

But the FIA eventually decreed that Honda can in fact do a limited amount of developing in 2015, and F1 supremo Ecclestone says he was involved in the turnaround.

"We discussed the issue with the FIA," Ecclestone is quoted by Russia's f1news.ru, "and I said that we have to use a slightly different approach because otherwise no one else would want to come into the championship."