FEBRUARY 21, 2013

Ecclestone and Todt to meet Thursday

F1 powerbrokers Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt are set to meet on Thursday, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

The topic? The unsigned 2013 Concorde Agreement.

Although F1 chief executive Ecclestone has inked bilateral financial agreements with all the teams, the signatures are still missing on the crucial pact between the teams, the commercial rights holder, and the FIA.

As the world championship belongs to the FIA, the Paris federation's president Jean Todt might not be too worried.

At the moment, with no Concorde in place, the FIA is completely free to dictate and change the rules and regulations, whilst still collecting the teams' entry fees.

According to German correspondent Michael Schmidt, Ecclestone might not be worried either.

Not having a tripartite agreement signed and sealed might be working in his favour at a timely moment.

The 82-year-old Briton's grip on power might seem under threat by the legal implications of the Gribkowsky corruption scandal, but at present - with no Concorde in place - he is perhaps the only man who can keep the entire circus working seamlessly.

(GMM)