Bernie Ecclestone is set to return to Munich as his bribery trial resumes. The F1 chief executive will be back in court on Friday, with the German news agency DPA reporting that prosecutors will call their first witnesses.
The report said the first witness will be former public prosecutor Hildegard Baumler-Hosl, whose dealings with Ecclestone relating to the Gerhard Gribkowsky corruption affair date back several years. It is believed the prosecution will focus on whether Ecclestone's statements about the disputed $44 million in payments to Gribkowsky were consistent over the years.
The stakes are high. Many believe Ecclestone's position as chief executive is already untenable, but his reign will most certainly be over if he is convicted. Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of the F1 fuel supplier and sponsor Total, warned: "Without Bernie, the system could collapse."
Also speaking to Challenges, a French language business magazine, Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez agrees that F1's 83-year-old supremo is "not simple to replace". Quadruple world champion Alain Prost added: "I really don't know who could replace him. Maybe a duo comprised of one formula one expert and one financial."
At least publicly, Ecclestone remains confident. Earlier, he flagged the likelihood of having to delegate some of his duties for the duration of the trial, but he now seems to be steering away from that.
"I know there is a lot of talk going on but I should be fine by the end of the trial," he told the Indian news agency PTI. "I am not sharing my work with anyone so far. Two days a week I am busy with the court work and the rest of it is enough for my F1 commitments." (GMM)
Ecclestone heads back to Munich as trial resumes
- Published on 01 May 2014 12:15
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
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 -
Antonelli admits Mercedes has lost its speed advantageAndrea Kimi Antonelli has confirmed what Mercedes feared: the team no longer has the fastest car on the grid. Speakin...
25 Aug 2026 16:11 -
Steiner's stark warning to Russell: top team days could be overGeorge Russell faces intense scrutiny after being told by Guenther Steiner that he must improve immediately or risk e...
25 Aug 2026 15:09 -
Why Alonso rates Verstappen above Schumacher as his greatest rivalFernando Alonso has named Max Verstappen the best competitor he has ever faced on track, placing the Red Bull driver ...
25 Aug 2026 14:08 -
Why Toto Wolff believes Max Verstappen's new Red Bull contract ends the 2025 silly seasonToto Wolff believes the driver market has effectively closed after Max Verstappen committed his future to Red Bull Ra...
25 Aug 2026 12:56
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 Lotus F1
- Base Enstone, United Kingdom
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Romain Grosjean 10
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 65,124 comments on Lotus F1
17 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lotus F1
Replies (0)
Login to reply