Forget the lack of opportunities for overtaking, the aerodynamics of the modern machines and talented drivers in uncompetitive cars, Ecclestone believes the processional nature of many races may be a matter of desire.

"Maybe instead of paying Michael Schumacher $60 million for a contract, they should pay him $10 million every time he wins," Ecclestone told the Times newspaper this week.

"The drivers should be capable of motivating themselves but that doesn't always happen.

"It is impossible to force the teams to do it, but we should think about paying the drivers when they get points and not just hand out the big salaries flying around at the moment."

Ecclestone singled out Jacques Villeneuve as the kind of driver who might benefit from this form of incentive.

The 1997 world champion has spent the last four years with BAR, earning an estimated $16 million a year but accumulating just 32 points and no race wins.

Ecclestone's comments came in the wake of two races at Silverstone and Hockenheim where early disruption opened up the field to produce some entertaining racing with plenty of overtaking.

"We can have racing," he said. "What was the problem with the racing at Silverstone? As soon as they all realised they could win or get decent places, they all started overtaking.

"There has been too long when the team manager calls drivers in and they expect to do their overtaking in the pits, relying on stopping for eight seconds when the other guy takes 10. They should do their overtaking on the track."

This is the part of the Formula One season where teams are starting to think about who they will have driving for them next season.

Credence is given to Ecclestone's argument by the fact that in most years about this time there is a vast improvement in the performances of at least a couple of drivers.

Having spent the year among the back-markers, they suddenly start competing as if their careers depended upon it -- which of course they may well do.

POSITIVE ENDORSEMENT

One British driver who will be keen to give a more positive endorsement of Ecclestone's point is Justin Wilson, who replaced Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia at Jaguar last month for the last five races of the season.

The 25-year-old will collect a $40,000 bonus for every point he scores rather than a salary.

Wilson will, however, have to have better luck in the remaining four races of the season than he did at the German Grand Prix, when a transmission problem ended his race soon after the start.

Ecclestone's desire for more competition is driven by his perception that the sport needs to start paying more attention to the fans whose money helps keep the whole F1 show on the road.

"We have to stop taking and start giving something back to the public," Ecclestone said.

"You cannot take a championship medal and then say, 'that's it'. Look at the people sitting in Hockenheim in 40-degree heat on Sunday.

"All they had to look at from Formula One in the morning was the drivers' parade, 20 blokes on a lorry chatting and not even acknowledging the crowd. If they don't in future, maybe we will have to fine them."