Bernie Ecclestone has joined forces with Formula 1 drivers who are complaining about the governance of the sport.

Sections of the media had interpreted the Grand Prix Drivers' Association's rare letter this week as a scathing attack on authorities including the F1 supremo.

However, in a typed reply to the drivers on Thursday, the 85-year-old told them: "It is not always easy to agree with you but you are correct in stating that the decision-making process in the sport is obsolete and ill-structured."

Ecclestone's own criticism of the current structure is not new, as he often hits out at FIA president Jean Todt's hands-off approach while ruing the days when he and Max Mosley ran F1 in a less democratic fashion.

"We must as you have stated urge the owners and all stakeholders of Formula 1 to consider restructuring its own governance," the Briton continued to tell the drivers.

"You state that every individual acts with the very best intentions. I am not sure if this is a misprint. If not, it should read 'with their very best intentions'."

The latter is almost certainly a reference to F1's team bosses, who can rarely agree on issues and rule-changes as they are competing against one another.