Niki Lauda has revealed he is worried formula one will struggle for health if Bernie Ecclestone is no longer at the wheel. F1's long-time 'supremo' could even be jailed if he is found guilty of bribery and corruption in a criminal trial that begins in Germany next month.
"Without him and his knowledge, formula one would fall into a giant hole," Lauda, the chairman of the Mercedes team and a triple world champion, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. He said it would be "incredibly difficult" for the sport if Ecclestone, 83, is no longer able to run F1 "from one day to the next".
Given the sport's size, many insiders find it hard to believe a succession plan is not ready to be unfurled, but Lauda said: "I don't know if Bernie can be so easily replaced." The great Austrian said the diminutive Briton has done a "perfect job" for the sport over the years. "He made some small errors, but each of us has done that," Lauda insisted.
Even Ecclestone admits that paying the jailed former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to quieten him about his tax affairs might have been a mistake. "I regret paying him," he told the F1 business journalist Christian Sylt. "I should have let him write to the (British) Revenue and let them prove what he said," Ecclestone is quoted by the Express newspaper. "It is a wonderful thing, hindsight." (GMM)
F1 would fall into a 'giant hole' without Ecclestone - Lauda
- Published on 17 Mar 2014 15:02
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
New F1 circuit sees nineteen red flags in single day of testingFormula 3's first proper test at Madrid's new street circuit descended into chaos this week, with nineteen re...
26 Aug 2026 13:58 -
Ferrari teases special 1996 Schumacher livery for home raceFerrari look set to field a special livery at the Italian Grand Prix that pays tribute to Michael Schumacher's fi...
26 Aug 2026 11:55 -
Why Verstappen's rare Zandvoort error stunned his ex-Red Bull mechanicMax Verstappen's heavy first-lap crash at Zandvoort has left those closest to him visibly shaken, with former Red...
26 Aug 2026 15:00 -
Why McLaren is ready to hand Norris a contract beyond 2030Lando Norris is expected to become the latest driver to commit his long-term future to a single team, with McLaren pr...
26 Aug 2026 12:57 -
Can Red Bull still upgrade Verstappen's engine this season?Red Bull Racing expects clarity this week on whether it can introduce a power unit upgrade for Max Verstappen before ...
26 Aug 2026 10:53
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Dutch Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
- Michael Schumacher 7
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 9
- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 638,728 comments on Mercedes
59 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (0)
Login to reply