F1 Chief Ecclestone Reveals Red Bull’s Christian Horner as Preferred Successor

With his position under threat, Formula 1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he would prefer Red Bull team boss Christian Horner to replace him when he eventually calls it a day.

Ecclestone, who has established Formula One into a global money spinner over the past four decades, has always dismissed talk of retirement but is now 83 and is facing legal challenges relating to a 2005 business deal.

“Christian would be ideal,” Ecclestone told reporters at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo in comments published in British newspapers on Friday.

“I would be happy to hold his hand. We could have a transitional period. It needs someone who knows the sport.”

In the High Court earlier this week CVC co-chairman Donald Mackenzie said that Ecclestone would be a hard act to follow and that CVC did not have anyone specific in mind to succeed him.

Referring to the need to line up a potential replacement, given Ecclestone’s age, Mackenzie said, “It won’t be easy. And we’re still thinking of one, trying to find one.”

Mackenzie also said that CVC would sack Ecclestone if he was found guilty of wrongdoing in his dealings with a jailed German banker.