Bernie Ecclestone will “walk away” from Formula 1 if new owners Liberty Media interfere with his running of the business, according to Max Mosley. The former head of F1’s governing body the FIA said Liberty “need” Ecclestone as it learns about its new acquisition.
“These people may take a more active role and they want to sort of run the business but that could bring them into conflict with Bernie,” Mosley said. But he added: “It is much more likely there will be a collaboration.”
Mosley, an old friend and ally of Ecclestone, was talking in an exclusive interview with 5 live. He said he expected F1 to continue as before under the new owners, despite the need for a succession plan for Ecclestone, who is 86 next month.
“There has to be a succession sooner or later unless Bernie’s immortal, which I don’t think he is,” Mosley said. “So I guess this would be part of that process. “But as far as the overall picture is concerned, I doubt very much that anything is going to change because they bring I would imagine certain sorts of expertise to the table.
Ecclestone, who said last week he had been asked to stay on for a further three years, has been criticised for failing to embrace the possibilities offered by the internet and social media to expand F1’s audience and potentially its income.
Interesting times ahead in formula as Ecclestone has been a major player in Formula 1 over the past decades.
