The criminal trial is only just beginning, but F1's board has already conceded that the Bernie Ecclestone reign is at an end. The banker he allegedly bribed, Gerhard Gribkowsky, is already in jail for receiving the $44 million, and a UK judge has also declared that the sport's 83-year-old chief executive paid a bribe.
Still, Ecclestone's defence appeared to get a boost this week when it emerged that German prosecutors concede that the diminutive Briton was in fact blackmailed by Gribkowsky. Writing in Forbes, and quoting from the indictment, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt explained that Gribkowsky was putting "pressure" on Ecclestone by "repeatedly insinuating" that Ecclestone had control of his family trust.
Ecclestone claims he paid the $44 million only because Gribkowsky was 'shaking me down' over his personal tax affairs. "It seems to be a textbook example of blackmail," Sylt said. Nonetheless, as the Munich proceedings begin on Thursday, the signs for Ecclestone are worrying.
Writing in the Times, Kevin Eason said Ecclestone could avoid jail by accepting he is guilty and paying more than a staggering $400 million. Even so, the Ecclestone era is "over", Eason quoted a source close to F1's owners CVC and the board as saying.
The report said the board has been advised by a London law firm not to keep Ecclestone in charge after a judge called him "untruthful and unreliable". The source explained: "In truth, it (Ecclestone's reign) has been over for a while, but Bernie has been allowed to continue as the face of the sport until this legal advice, which was devastating." (GMM)
CVC board admits Ecclestone reign in F1 is 'over'
- Published on 24 Apr 2014 10:52
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
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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
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Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
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Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
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Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
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Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
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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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