The pre-trial documents outlining the case against Bernie Ecclestone make no mention of the possibility he was blackmailed by Gerhard Gribkowsky. That is the claim of the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, revealing that it has seen and read the 223-page document ahead of the Munich hearings that begin next week.
F1's chief executive claims he only paid the millions to jailed banker Gribkowsky because he was threatening to divulge details of Ecclestone's tax affairs to authorities. But Welt am Sonntag claims prosecutors do not regard Ecclestone's account as legitimate, insisting the almost $44 million in payments to Gribkowsky was solely so the 83-year-old Briton can "secure his position of power" in charge of F1.
Citing the court documents, the newspaper also says 40 witnesses are scheduled to testify at the trial, which will be attended by Ecclestone himself. Ecclestone said in Bahrain last weekend that F1 will "do our best" to run the sport while he is occupied in court.
"The judge has been very good," he told British television Sky. "He has said you've just got two days a week in court, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. "On the Wednesday's he's going to try and get things out of the way a little bit earlier so I can leave and carry on doing what I normally do," added Ecclestone. (GMM)
Prosecutors dismiss Ecclestone 'blackmail' possibility
- Published on 14 Apr 2014 16:27
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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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
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