Martin Sorrell launches a broadside at F1 Ecclestone

Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone has always liked to give the impression that he runs the sport single-handedly. In fact he is employed by CVC Capital Partners, the owner of Formula One, and has shareholders he must answer to. One of whom is the adman Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP.

Not for the first time, Sorrell has expressed his exasperation at Ecclestone's behaviour. So much so that Bernie, in Singapore for Lewis Hamilton's victory in the weekend Grand Prix, felt bound to inform reporters that Sorrell was "not in a position to get rid of me in any shape or form... He is on the board, but he is a terribly minor shareholder and he has a very minority say".

Ecclestone was responding to rumours that Sorrell might be leading a putsch to get him out. The rumours circulated after Sorrell labelled Ecclestone "out of touch with reality" when the latter remarked last week that his friend Flavio Briatore (above, with Ecclestone), former managing director of the Renault team, had been over-punished for his part in the 'Crashgate' scandal.

"I'm certainly not going to let Martin Sorrell tell me what to say any more than I would stop him saying what he wants to say," Ecclestone said. "I would just hope that people think I am a bit brighter than he is and would listen to me rather than him."

Relations between the two men have been awkward ever since Ecclestone told the Times in an interview this summer that he admired the way Adolf Hitler was able to "get things done". Ecclestone claimed afterwards that his words had been misinterpreted, but Sorrell, one of Britain's most prominent Jewish businessmen, was deeply upset by the remark.

For a small man, Ecclestone is fearless. He launched his counter-attack on Sorrell only days before he is due to meet the advertising man for dinner in London - at Sorrell's invitation. As the Times reports today, it should be an interesting evening. ·