However, a CVC source has now intimidated that a plea bargain would throw up a
different set of circumstances, to which there was not yet such a clear
answer.
The court will decide whether Ecclestone paid Gerhard Gribkowsky, the German
banker involved in Formula One’s sale nearly a decade ago, a bribe of $44
million (£26 million).
Ecclestone will be in front of the judge, Peter Noll, who convicted Gribkowsky
and said of the case: “In this process we assume the driving force was Mr
Ecclestone.”
Amid the discussion of his future, one topic Ecclestone has been keen to
discuss is F1’s new engine regulations. Despite continuing criticism of the
rules from Ferrari, most teams have arrived in the Shanghai paddock buoyed
by a hugely exciting and promising race in Bahrain.
Ecclestone had expressed disapproval of the rules. Had his view of the new F1
changed? “There is no new F1, we have F1,” he said. “The regulations change
more or less every year. It’s a new engine regulation. It has caused me to
think it’s probably the wrong thing to do because of the noise, or the lack
of it.
“Time will tell to see if everybody is happy. It’s not me that’s concerned,
personally, it’s the promoters that sell tickets to the public.”
One figure who has reiterated his dislike of the new formula is Luca di
Montezemolo, the Ferrari president who has appointed a new team principal,
Marco Mattiacci, after a dismal start to the season.
Di
Montezemolo revealed that he will increased his involvement in the
team in an effort to make them competitive again. “I will help him,” the
Italian said. “I will do like I did in the past. I will stay closer to
Formula One. I’ll spend more time on it.