MOTORSPORT boss Bernie Ecclestone has told a High Court judge that the fact he had never lost control of Formula 1 racing "upset an awful lot of people".

Mr Ecclestone, chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, was giving evidence at a High Court trial in London after being accused of making a "corrupt bargain" in a bid to stay at the top of Formula 1.

He has been accused of entering into a "corrupt agreement" with a banker eight years ago to facilitate the sale of the Formula 1 group to a buyer "chosen" by him. A German media company says it lost out as a result of the deal and has taken legal action against Mr Ecclestone.

But Mr Ecclestone says Constantin Medien's claim "lacks any merit" and he denies any "conspiracy".

"I had control of Formula 1 and still do. I have never lost it," he told Mr Justice Newey. "It has upset an awful lot of people. But it is a fact. I didn't work alongside anybody. I did my job exactly the way I wanted to do it."

He added: "I didn't care who the board was or who the shareholders were or anything. The minute I couldn't run the company the way I wanted to do I would have left."

Mr Ecclestone, giving evidence for a second day, has said he paid Gerhard Gribkowsky - who had been a senior official at a German bank - £10 million because Dr Gribkowsky had insinuated he would create difficulties with tax authorities.

Philip Marshall QC, for Constantin, said the banker "assisted" Mr Ecclestone to facilitate the sale of the group to a "purchaser chosen by Mr Ecclestone".

Mr Ecclestone's lawyers say the claim "is an artificial, manufactured complaint".

The trial continues.