Bernie Eclestone abandona la Fórmula 1
Bernie Ecclestone could step down as F1 chief this week
“Hoy he sido destituido. Estoy sencillamente fuera. Es oficial. Ya no dirijo la empresa. Mi puesto ha sido asumido por Chase Carey”, indicó Ecclestone a ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ tras ser relevado por el presidente del consorcio estadounidense Liberty Media, que se hizo con los derechos comerciales del Mundial de Fórmula Uno el pasado martes 17 de enero. Un día antes de que el Consejo Mundial del Deporte de Motor de la FIA (Federación Internacional del Automóvil) comunicase que había aprobado unánimemente, durante una reunión en Ginebra, la venta.
“Liberty, el Grupo de Fórmula Uno y la FIA desean colaborar en crear una relación de trabajo constructiva que asegure un éxito continuado y el desarrollo del Mundial de Fórmula Uno a largo plazo”, había señalado el pasado miércoles la FIA en un comunicado.
Ecclestone, de 86 años, indicó este lunes a la citada revista que no dejará del todo la Fórmula Uno, un deporte, negocio y espectáculo que dirigía desde los últimos cuarenta años. Al parecer, Liberty le ha ofrecido la presidencia de honor de la F1 tras ser relevado en el cargo por Carey, de 68.
“Mi nueva posición es una expresión americana. Una especie de presidencia de honor. Utilizo este título sin saber aún qué significa”, explicó Ecclestone a ‘Auto, Motor und Sport’.
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Liberty has already employed Chase Carey, a former executive at Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, as chairman of F1.
And senior F1 sources say American Sean Bratches, a former executive at television network ESPN, is poised to be appointed to run the commercial side of the sport, including sponsorship, marketing and media rights.
Ross Brawn, the former Mercedes team boss and Ferrari technical director, is expected to take up a role in charge of relations with the teams on the sporting and technical side.
BBC Sport has been told that some senior officials at Formula 1 Management, the company Ecclestone heads, think it unlikely he would accept an honorary role as life president if it was offered.
Senior sources expect that Ecclestone's departure will happen within a month, even if he does not go this week. He is currently on a skiing holiday.
Liberty refused to comment when contacted by the BBC.
Liberty last week cleared the final hurdles required before finalising its takeover, with approval of both its own shareholders of the deal and then that of F1's governing body, the FIA.
All that remains is for the final commercial deals to take place that will see Liberty take over from investment group CVC Capital Partners as the company running the sport.
Liberty's target, when it paid the first instalment of its buy-out, was for that to be completed before the end of the first financial quarter this year. But it is now expected in the coming days.