Bernie Ecclestone tips Red Bull’s Christian Horner as successor

Ecclestone,83,has been in charge of F1 for 40 years and enjoys a close friendship with Horner.

Bernie Ecclestone believes Red Bull team principal Christian Horner would be the ideal person to succeed him as Formula One chief executive. Ecclestone,83,has been in charge of F1 for 40 years and enjoys a close friendship with Horner,who has overseen Red Bull winning the constructors’ and drivers’ titles in the last four seasons.

Christian would be ideal, Ecclestone told British media at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo. I would be happy to hold his hand. We could have a transitional period. It needs someone who knows the sport.

If someone comes in from the outside,a corporate type,I don’t think I could work with them. They wouldn’t last five minutes.

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Ecclestone’s position has come under scrutiny as he faces up to $140 million worth of damages in London’s High Court,as well as a pending case in Munich,for bribery charges relating to the sale of a stake in F1 in 2005.

The decision of who eventually takes over rests with the series’ owner,CVC Capital Partners,who have said they would remove Ecclestone if it’s proven he has done anything that’s criminal or wrong.

The private equity firm added that the allegations and Ecclestone’s age make a clear succession plan very important.

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner today distanced himself from the prospect of taking over Bernie Ecclestone’s role as the lynchpin of Formula One management.

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Speaking on the opening day of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos,he said it was flattering to be connected with the role,but he did not foresee himself leaving his team.

Horner said: “It’s very flattering what Bernie has said,but he is going to be here for a long time to come. He’s in great shape and is still doing some great deals for the sport.

“My focus is fully on this team and it is for the foreseeable future. I can’t see how any one individual can replace Bernie. “What he does is unique and it will be a sad day for the sport when he’s no longer here.”

Rosberg fastest

Nico Rosberg was fastest in the first practice session for Formula One’s season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday in light rain. He clocked 1 minute,24.781 seconds on a wet Interlagos track,edging Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.449.

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Hamilton spun early in the session and world champion Sebastian Vettel went off the track near the end. But he was third. Vettel has a chance on Sunday to equal Michael Schumacher’s 13 victories in a year and match the record nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons.