Ecclestone: I’ll quit if Murdoch comes in

Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that he will depart Formula 1 if a takeover bid for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation proves successful. At present, Ecclestone serves as commercial rights holder for the sport as head of CVC Capital Partners.

First reported by Murdoch-owned Sky News last week, his group is in the initial stages of discussions for a potential takeover of the sport, potentially meaning that the United Kingdom’s television coverage could switch from free-to-air to pay-per-view.

However, Ecclestone has suggested that he would not work alongside the News Corp CEO, who is also 80 years of age.

“I'm old enough to get a pension, so I don't have to get a job," Ecclestone told The Sunday Times. “I'd have to be sure the people are people I would like to work with and whether they would want to work with me."

The current Concorde Agreement – which binds F1’s teams with the commercial rights holder and governing body the FIA – will expire at the end of next year.