Ecclestone still plans to attend German GP

Bernie Ecclestone insists he will attend this weekend's German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

The F1 chief executive is embroiled in a scandal regarding his comments in a media interview about Hitler, which has already led to the cancellation of a meeting on Sunday with a German state premier.

It also emerged that Ecclestone, 78, has called off his attendance at an opening ceremony for improvements at the venue, sparking suggestions he may skip the race weekend altogether.

But asked by Bild newspaper if he plans to attend the Grand Prix, the Briton answered: "Of course. I go to all the races."

Some observers have questioned the relevance of Ecclestone's political musings to his role at the head of F1's commercial rights.

But Zak Brown, chief executive of the agency JM which represents many Formula One sponsors, said Ecclestone's apology in the wake of the saga "was needed".

So close after other negative-publicity scandals, he said the industry needs to "clean itself up".

"Bernie often says things with shock value. It has definitely made the news in the US," he added.

It emerges that Ecclestone has hired the public relations firm Finsbury Ltd in the wake of his comments.

CVC, the private equity firm that owns F1 and also invests on behalf of Jewish funds, said it was "shocked" by the affair.

"We fully concur with the unreserved apology that was made by Mr Ecclestone yesterday," said a spokesman.