Ecclestone: I’d be delighted if he went to the FIA

Editor

Following speculation that Liberty Media has offered Ross Brawn a chance to take up the CEO role in F1, current CEO Bernie Ecclestone reckons that the race engineer would be better off within the FIA.

Brawn has since denied he is being line-up up as a replacement for Ecclestone, saying that all he is doing is minor consulting with Liberty Media.

The Formula 1 supremo explained that they don’t need an engineer running the sport.

“I’d be delighted if he went to the FIA – he would be absolutely first class,” he told Autosport.

“I haven’t spoken to him for quite a long time. I haven’t got the slightest idea what he could do. But nothing with us. We don’t need an engineer, or anybody like Ross’s job.”

Ecclestone also added that Liberty Media aren’t in complete control of Formula 1 and that they only own 10% of the sport.

“Liberty Media are shareholders – Chase [Carey] has taken up Peter Brabeck’s role as chairman, but they are not in control of the company,” the 86-year-old explained.

“They have 10% of the company, and at the moment I am still chief executive of the company.

“It’s the same company it’s always been. If Liberty gains control then they are in a position to do whatever they want to do, which anybody that owns a company can do.

“But at the moment they don’t own the company, so they are not in that position.”