Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that the bribery case still hanging over his head could ultimately see him lose his role at the head of F1.
Ecclestone is still waiting to discover if he will face any charges related to alleged payments made to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky during the sale of F1 to current owners CVC back in 2006.
While Gribkowsky has already been jailed, Ecclestone has always denied that any payments made were in the form of a bribe but he has now admitted that any charges from Germany could end his time in the sport.
“[It] will probably be forced to get rid of me if the Germans come after me,” he told the
Telegraph. “It's pretty obvious, if I'm locked up.”
Rumours have been ongoing for some time about who could ultimately replace Ecclestone in his position, although the 82-year-old said he didn't feel it was a case of the company being out to find his successor.
“They said they had hired a head-hunter to find somebody in the event that I was not going to be there – if I was going to die or something,” he said. “It is the normal thing they do to keep people happy.”
Ecclestone comments come after
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said the case could lead to changes at the head of F1.