Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday confirmed reports some of F1’s major stakeholders are “plotting” his demise.<\/p>\n
We reported this month that Mercedes and Red Bull have joined Ferrari in apparently moving against the long-time F1 ‘supremo’, with plans to replace the 85-year-old Briton with a three-pronged leadership team.<\/p>\n
Niki Lauda has been named as the potential head of the ‘sporting’ arm but the F1 legend rubbished those claims in Barcelona.<\/p>\n
“Such b——t,” he told Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper.<\/p>\n
“Toto Wolff and I have a big enough job here with Mercedes, and we even own shares in the team.\u00a0 We are successful and everything works fine,” Lauda added.<\/p>\n
One suggestion, however, is that Lauda is already scaling down his other commitments ahead of a possible change of leadership in F1.<\/p>\n
For instance, he is no longer a full-time pundit for German television RTL.<\/p>\n
Lauda insists: “That was RTL’s decision, who did it for budgetary reasons.\u00a0 Less money means less Niki.<\/p>\n
“I want to emphasise that it was not my idea,” Lauda insisted.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, it is rumoured that ahead of the Spanish grand prix on Sunday, big-wigs including Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche and Fiat president Sergio Marchionne actually admitted their plot during a pre-race meeting.<\/p>\n
When asked about those rumours, Ecclestone – who met with CVC’s Donald Mackenzie in Barcelona – told Britain’s Sky: “I don’t know.<\/p>\n
“They’re trying to do some plotting probably but they don’t know what they’re plotting for.”<\/p>\n
When asked by former driver and respected commentator Martin Brundle if the plot is to “get rid” of Ecclestone, the diminutive Briton added: “They’ve got more chance of getting struck by lightning.<\/p>\n
“They should start doing the pools (lottery),” Ecclestone said.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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