Ecclestone sides with Horner: 'With success, you make enemies'

Bernie Ecclestone is never averse to some controversy. The now 93-year-old former Formula 1 owner is known for not shying away from conflict and always has a spicy opinion. Even on the case of Christian Horner, Ecclestone isn't afraid to make a comment.

In large letters, Ecclestone wrote on his Instagram account on Wednesday that the media report was completely wrong: No, he had absolutely not advised Horner to resign from Red Bull Racing with immediate effect, where the team boss is the subject of an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour. Speaking to AFP news agency, Ecclestone now reveals that he had suggested just the opposite to Horner.

"My advice to Christian, apart from keeping his head down, is to do nothing, wait and see what happens,” the Briton told AFP. "I keep in close contact with him. The trouble is once you are successful, you make a lot of enemies, and this is a case in point."

Ecclestone also thinks - without claiming to know the details of what exactly occurred in the Horner case - that it is all best resolved internally: "I hope Christian keeps his head down and that someone talks individually to him and the woman and it is sorted out.”