CVC Co-Founder Donald MacKenzie Backs Up Bernie Ecclestone's Claims In Court

CVC Capital co-Founder Donald MacKenzie said that F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone "never demanded to keep his position during the sale of the racing series eight years ago," according to the DPA. MacKenzie, who was called to the witness stand during Wednesday's court session, told the judge that Ecclestone only said, "If you want me, I could be available." The statement "raises questions about one of the prosecution's basic assumptions." The prosecution accuses Ecclestone of bribing former BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky "to sell the majority stake of F1 to CVC so he could keep his position as 'F1 supremo.'" MacKenzie, however, said that "Ecclestone's personal future was not part of the negotiations." He said, "We've showed him a contract of employment, but he never showed any interest and didn't negotiate" (DPA, 7/9).