The 83-year-old Briton is accused of giving a $44 million (£27 million/€32 million) bribe to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky as part of the sale of Formula One in 2005.

Gribkowsky is serving a jail sentence for receiving the payment.

Ecclestone, who denies any wrongdoing, has stepped down from the Board of the company which runs Formula One, but it is understood he will continue to run the business on a day-to-day basis.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has worked with Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a Russian Grand Prix utilising the Sochi Olympic Park a reality ©AFP/Getty Images



He appeared at London's High Court last year in a civil claim by German company Constantin Medien over his involvement in the deal.

He is awaiting the outcome of that case.

The criminal trial will reportedly begin in late April.

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