Ecclestone: They're trying to do some plotting

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday confirmed reports some of the sport's major stakeholders are "plotting" his demise and Niki Lauda apparently the heir apparent to thhe most powerful throne in motorsport.

We reported this month that Mercedes and Red Bull have joined Ferrari in apparently moving against the long-time sport's boss, with plans to replace the 85-year-old Briton with a three-pronged leadership team.

Triple world champion Lauda has been named as the potential head of the 'sporting' arm but the F1 legend rubbished those claims in Barcelona.

"Such b*llshit," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "Toto Wolff and I have a big enough job here with Mercedes, and we even own shares in the team. We are successful and everything works fine."

One suggestion, however, is that Lauda is already scaling down his other commitments ahead of a possible change of leadership in F1. For instance, he is no longer a full-time pundit for German television RTL.

Lauda insists, "That was RTL's decision, who did it for budgetary reasons. Less money means less Niki. I want to emphasise that it was not my idea."

Nonetheless, it is being speculated that big-wigs including Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche and Fiat president Sergio Marchionne actually admitted their plot during a pre-race meeting.

When asked about those rumours, Ecclestone - who met with CVC's Donald Mackenzie in Barcelona - told Britain's Sky: "I don't know. They're trying to do some plotting probably but they don't know what they're plotting for."

When asked by former driver and respected commentator Martin Brundle if the plot is to "get rid" of Ecclestone, the diminutive Briton added: "They've got more chance of getting struck by lightning. They should start doing the pools (lottery)."