Bernie Ecclestone has named Red Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner as the man he wants to succeed him running Formula One.
The 83-year-old has controlled the sport for the past 40 years and believes that the Red Bull supremo is the ideal man to take the reins as President and CEO of Formula One.
Ecclestone is believed to have a close relationship with the 40-year-old and has admitted that he would prefer someone with first-hand knowledge of the sport as opposed to the likes of the Premier League’s Richard Scudamore and Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King who have also been linked with the role.
Speaking to reporters, Ecclestone said: “Christian would be ideal. 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. I don’t want anyone who is a corporate type.
“People deal with me because they know me. I have known them for a long time and they trust me. They know I am straight with them.
“That is how it is with Christian. I hope we can do it.”
Horner has been a huge success at Red Bull, overseeing the team’s dominance in the driving constructors’ championship, whilst also seeing main driver, Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, become the world’s youngest quadruple world champion.
By Matt Hill
*Images courtesy of Ryan Bayona / Silverstone Circuits
