Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone will hand over temporary control of the international racing series to his legal affairs adviser, Sacha Woodward-Hill, while he travels to Munich, Germany, to battle bribery charges brought against him originating in 2005. If Ecclestone is found guilty by the conclusion of the four-month trial, European law would require that he be displaced as the head of Formula One.
If Ecclestone is found guilty, in addition to relinquishing his F1 title role, he would likely face a large monetary fine as well as possible jail time [as much as 10 years].