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Bernie hopes for fickle F1 races

LONDON, England - Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone wants an an unpredictable 2014 season. Every race a wet race, he says, would be ideal.

Ecclestone said he would be able to keep on top of running the sport despite going on trial for bribery in Germany in April (2014).

"I hope every race is going to be like a wet race," Ecclestone told Reuters in a phone interview when asked about prospects for the 2014 season which will open in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday (March 16). "Unpredictable is the word."

JAIL TIME?

F1 is undergoing the biggest technical change for two decades: the introduction of a turbocharged V6 enginewith energy recovery systems and all eyes are on Red Bull and champion Sebastian Vettel. Can they maintain their dominance after struggling in pre-season testing?

Ecclestone's enthusiasm for the new season seems undiminished despite the court casethat will take up some of his attention from late April and could run until September. "We will attend as and when we have to, a couple of days a week," he said.

The 83-year-old could be jailed if convicted in a case linked to the sale of a stake in the business in 2005. Major shareholder CVC has also said it will fire him if he is found guilty of wrongdoing.

Despite his age and legal problems, Ecclestone gave no indication he was preparing to step aside or was ready to hand over to a successor. "At the moment I'm quite fit. I wouldn't say that this was going to be one of my last seasons."

Media reports in February 2014 said US groups Liberty Global and Discovery Communications had approached CVC about buying a major stake in F1but Ecclestone played down the talk.

"They (CVC) don't want to sell out," he said.

Ecclestone was in the Black Sea resort of Sochi at the weekend, the Winter Olympic venue which will stage the first GP in Russia in October.

"We're looking in great shape, they've done a good job," he said of preparations, suggesting the Russian race could be fitted into an earlier slot in the 2015 calendar to make more of an impact.

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
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