Witness gives Ecclestone's defence a boost in court

Bernie Ecclestone's defence got a boost on Tuesday, as the corruption trial continued in Munich. If found guilty of having bribed the jailed former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, the sport's chief executive will certainly lose his job, and probably also be jailed.

But his defence - that Gribkowsky blackmailed him - got a boost on Tuesday. Central to the prosecution's case is the suggestion that Ecclestone paid Gribkowsky $44 million so that his preferred buyer for F1's commercial rights, CVC, got the green light.

It is alleged that Ecclestone wanted CVC to buy BayernLB's shares, because the Munich state bank holding onto them could endanger his role as F1 supremo. But a former legal advisor to BayernLB on Tuesday testified in Munich, and the witness denied that the bank ever posed a threat to Ecclestone's job.

"I don't think it ever arose that Ecclestone could be deposed," German media reports quote the unnamed witness as saying. "I don't even think it would have been possible," the witness reportedly added. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule
show sidebar