Bernie Ecclestone Retains F1 Backing

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One President, has said the F1 board have given him their full support despite claims he will face bribery charges in Germany.

Ecclestone was reportedly charge by the Munich prosecutor’s office last week over offences which are related to his involvement with Gerhard Gribkowsky, a former German banker who has been imprisoned for accepting £29m ($44m) in alleged bribes from Ecclestone.

The F1 chief has revealed he received the board’s backing at a meeting in Geneva. He told The Sunday Times: “Everyone voted to support me staying on and running the business. The board agrees I should stay unless I’m convicted.”

He also denied any wrongdoing and protested his innocence.

He said: “I still don’t know what the German prosecutors think. I wish I was guilty – it would be much easier. The charges are a complete load of rubbish.