![\"Monisha-Kaltenborn-3\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2013-rif-images\/f1-2013-persons\/Monisha-Kaltenborn-3.jpg\")
That is despite the fact the 82-year-old has been formally charged with bribery by prosecutors in Germany, who allege he blackmailed the now-jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to undersell the rights to CVC.<\/p>\nBernie Ecclestone insists CVC, the owners of formula one’s commercial rights, are “very happy” to keep him in charge of the sport.<\/p>\n
That is despite the fact the 82-year-old has been formally charged with bribery by prosecutors in Germany, who allege he blackmailed the now-jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to undersell the rights to CVC.<\/p>\n
After news of Ecclestone’s indictment broke, CVC issued a terse statement saying it will “monitor” the situation.<\/p>\n
“An oath of loyalty sounds different,” the major German newspaper Die Welt surmised.<\/p>\n
Michael Schmidt, of Auto Motor und Sport, agreed: “It (CVC’s statement) does not sound like unconditional support.”<\/p>\n
Additionally, FIA president Jean Todt is quoted as saying: “He (Ecclestone) is employed by CVC, so it’s their decision.<\/p>\n
“The responsibility for the future of formula one is more about CVC than about Bernie,” he is also quoted as saying by Neue Zurcher Zeitung.<\/p>\n
Also monitoring the situation is BayernLB, the Munich bank that Gribkowsky was representing when Ecclestone allegedly bribed him.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the bank said: “We are following events closely.”<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Ecclestone’s troubles are the big talking point behind closed doors in F1 circles.<\/p>\n
Bild newspaper correspondent Helmut Uhl wrote: “Team bosses, sponsors, big companies such as Ferrari, Red Bull and their partners are wondering: is Ecclestone still viable as formula one boss?”<\/p>\n
The Daily Telegraph’s Tom Cary said: “In most sports it would be difficult to imagine a chief executive remaining in power with these sorts of charges swirling about.<\/p>\n
“But formula one is not most sports — and Ecclestone is not most men.”<\/p>\n
Indeed, Ecclestone insists he has CVC’s backing.<\/p>\n
“I have heard from them and they are very happy as I am for me to continue to run the business,” he is quoted by the Daily Express correspondent Bob McKenzie.<\/p>\n
“Nothing has changed. Nothing affects how I look after the best interests of F1.\u00a0 No one has said anything to the contrary,” added Ecclestone.<\/p>\n
For now, F1’s competing teams are quiet, but the first comment has been made by Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, according to Neue Zurcher Zeitung newspaper.<\/p>\n
“In general,” she said, “such headlines are not good for formula one.”<\/p>\n
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