I was a bit of an idiot: Bernie Ecclestone on paying US$100m to settle bribery trial
British billionaire agrees 'record' deal, which ends three-month case and allows him to maintain grip as F1 patriarch
Bernie Ecclestone says he is relieved to be back running Formula One but feels “a bit of an idiot” after settling his bribery trial in Germany.
The 83-year-old F1 supremo was back at his desk in London hours after walking out of the court in Munich, his case brought to a premature end after the British billionaire arranged to make a US$100 million payment.
“The bottom line is it’s been three-and-a-half years of aggravation, travelling, meeting lawyers, and God knows what else, so it is good it is out of the way,” Ecclestone told Britain’s Press Association.
In the end what has happened today is good and bad – the good is the judge more or less said I was acquitted, and they (the prosecution) really didn’t have a case.
“This trial has been going on for two days a week and it was going to go on until October. When you’re trying to run businesses it’s not easy trying to resolve things when you’re dealing with lawyers.
“In the end what has happened today is good and bad – the good is the judge more or less said I was acquitted, and they [the prosecution] really didn’t have a case.
“So I was a bit of an idiot to do what I did to settle because it wasn’t with the judge, it was with the prosecutors. Anyway, it’s done and finished, so it’s all right. I’m contented, it’s all fine.
“This now allows me to do what I do best, which is running F1. Another three months out would have been bad. I’ve been working weekends to catch up with what I’ve been missing during the week.