The 74-year-old 'supremo' revealed at Monte Carlo, where the Honda-owned squad will serve out a two-grand prix ban, that he persuaded FIA president Max Mosley not to chase a one-year ban for cheating.
"I told him to come back from that a little bit," Bernie said, "because I was worried Honda might leave (F1).
"It would also not have been good for the sport."
Ecclestone also basically admitted that his FIA job offer to liaise with the teams is a Mosley plot to appease damaged-beyond-repair relations.
"Max enjoys confrontation," he smiled, "but I'd rather just get on and get the job done." -GMM