Ecclestone: No hard feelings towards Liberty Media

When CVC offloaded Formula 1 to Liberty media, Bernie Ecclestone was hoping the new owners would keep the former supremo on for at least one more year.

In an interview with Sky Sports News Craig Slater, his first since leaving the helm, Ecclestone revealed that the initial plan set up by Liberty was for him to stay on for three years in order to ensure a smooth transition.

But the media company's decision to award F1 with a new management structure ultimately forced his departure.

The 86-year-old denied he felt down by the change of the US company's agenda although he admitted he would not have followed the same line of thought.

"Not at all. I know the way the world operates," Ecclestone told Sky Sports News.

"I would have asked them to work with me for a bit, wait for a year and afterwards say 'has it worked, not worked?' 'Not worked? Sorry, you'll have to leave,' or whatever.

"But different people operate companies differently, obviously. I think this is very much the way American companies operate. Let's be absolutely sensible about it: they bought the car, they wanted to drive it."

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Ecclestone opposed claims made recently by Liberty managers that the business of F1 has been in stagnation.

"I think people have got muddled up a bit," he added.

"These people have thought and said, and Chase has said, that I hadn't done a very good job in the last three years.

"I thought I had, CVC thought I had, and I managed to produce $1.5 billion-a-year income, which made their shares worth a lot of money.

"Maybe if I'd have done a lousy job people could have bought the shares cheaper."

Bernie Ecclestone said that he would certainly attend a good number of races in 2017, and has been asked to go to Brazil by Carey to oversee a new deal with Brazilian GP promoters.

"I've been asked and invited to go to most of them, so I'll have to try and sort it out," he said. "Probably at least half of them."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.