Bernie Ecclestone's future might not be as secure as it was earlier thought.
US media tycoon John Malone was understood to have signed the Formula 1 supremo to a new three-year deal as he moved to take over the sport's commercial rights from CVC.
Yet Germany's Auto Bild claims that Ecclestone, 85, and 75-year-old Malone may already have clashed, with the current F1 chief executive now set to vacate his role after November's season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The same report says that Malone and Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne are also clashing, with the former wanting to end the Italian team's special annual bonus payments.
"Sue me!" Malone is quoted as having told Marchionne during recent negotiations. "I have the time and the money."
However, not everyone is unhappy with the deal.
Auto Bild says that Mercedes chairman Dieter Zetsche is interested in Malone's offer that teams be able to buy into the commercial rights.
Mercedes is said to want 10%, ahead of a forthcoming meeting between Zetsche and his Renault and Ferrari counterparts Carlos Ghosn and Marchionne.
Another top team, Red Bull, is reportedly hesitating.
"We have to think about the price-performance ratio," an official is quoted as saying. "If it is too expensive and with little influence, an engagement would not make sense."
Meanwhile, Bild newspaper reports that Malone's Liberty Media wants race ticket prices to drop dramatically, while adding more European races to the calendar.
