Bernie Ecclestone in a fighting mood

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone may have a big problem on the domestic front with the impending divorce from his wife, Slavica (pictured with Ecclestone). But he is not letting his difficulties at the office – namely Honda's withdrawal from Grand Prix racing - trouble him too much. "Honda will be no great loss," he told the Daily Telegraph. "Just look at where they finished in the championship – ninth. They wasted millions and were a bad example to other teams. Now they've gone, we've got a chance to bring in some sense to the teams about how much they should spend."

Ecclestone, 78, also seems unbothered by remarks made by Max Mosley, the president of the sport's governing body, the FIA, that other big names are set to leave the sport. "In Formula One, teams come and go. It's not the end of the world. Only Ferrari has been there since the start."

His divorce, however, is another matter. It is believed he signed over much of his £2.4bn fortune to Slavica for tax purposes and will now have to sue her for a settlement.

There is a lot at stake.The assets owned by the couple include properties all over the world, a Falcon jet, a 190ft yacht as well as part ownership in Queens Park Rangers football club (with Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and Flavio Briatore).

The money Ecclestone has made from F1's television rights and a multitude of spin-offs has been invested in a Jersey-based offshore trust which is controlled by Slavica, who at 50 is 28 years younger than her soon to be ex-husband.