Breaking news
Formula 1
Ecclestone hints he could 'leave F1 tomorrow'
The names Christian Horner, Flavio Briatore and the suddenly higher-profile Luca di Montezemolo are mentioned as potential successors.
GMM
Edited: May 23, 2014, 2:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
May 23 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has hinted he is close to stepping down as F1 supremo.
Most insiders believe that, with star witness Gerhard Gribkowsky often sounding contradictory or unbelievable, Ecclestone's Munich corruption trial is going well for the 83-year-old.
But he certainly does not look well this weekend.
The diminutive Briton had to miss a day of court last week with a bad cold, and he is still unwell as he fulfills his duties in the Principality.
But while Ecclestone may ultimately win the day in Munich, the scandal may already have taken its toll.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport raised the theory that F1's major shareholder CVC might have decided now to oust him, no matter the outcome.
The names Christian Horner, Flavio Briatore and the suddenly higher-profile Luca di Montezemolo are mentioned as potential successors.
And with his cold leaving him with a husky voice, Ecclestone said: "I have heard Niki Lauda's name."
Usually, Ecclestone suggests the only way he will voluntarily leave the paddock is nailed inside a wooden box.
But he said in Monaco: "If CVC presents me with a successor, I will leave tomorrow."
The words will be echoing inside the paddock, as F1 is currently in the sort of trouble that only Ecclestone has traditionally been able to magically solve.
On one side are angry small teams who are threatening the involvement of the European Union, and on the other are the powerful big teams, seemingly determined to cling to their financial advantage.
"Our job," big-spending Red Bull's Horner said on Thursday, "is to to the best job we can to represent the companies that we work for, so of course you're going to cut the most aggressive deal that you can."
It is rumoured the big teams are quite happy to see the small teams fail and be forced to buy 'customer cars' rather than continue to try to be constructors.
"It's a brutal competition and it's survival of the fittest," said Horner.
Without Ecclestone, many fear F1 is currently facing an existential threat.
"There has never been a worse time to lose Bernie," Auto Motor und Sport quoted one paddock voice as saying.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Hamilton open to more 'lively' rivalry with Rosberg
Next article Rosberg ready for 'war' with Hamilton
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Niki Lauda
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Niki Lauda's championship-winning Ferrari 312T returns in Austria as son takes wheel
Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Niki Lauda's championship-winning Ferrari 312T returns in Austria as son takes wheel
Mercedes welcome Niki Lauda's family at F1 Austrian GP: "A legacy that lives on"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Mercedes welcome Niki Lauda's family at F1 Austrian GP: "A legacy that lives on"
Latest news
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
30 min
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
F1 Mexico GP: Follow FP1 with live timing
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
53 min
F1 Mexico GP: Follow FP1 with live timing
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Lewis Hamilton on why he is “built differently” to stay in F1 for the “foreseeable future”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Lewis Hamilton on why he is “built differently” to stay in F1 for the “foreseeable future”
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe