Bernie Ecclestone could lose his 40-year hold on Formula One when legal action over the sale of a stake in the motorsport concludes within weeks. The 83-year-old billionaire awaits the outcome of a $100m damages claim brought by German media firm Constantin Medien, which alleges that Ecclestone and three other executives deliberately undervalued the company when private equity fund CVC Capital Partners bought into the business in 2005. That decision is expected in January or February and will be followed by Ecclestone contesting another damages claim in London and a potential criminal trial in Germany. A Munich court will decide this year whether to order the F1 boss to stand trial over the $44m he and a family trust paid to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to smooth the stake sale to CVC, reported Reuters. Ecclestone, who has a personal fortune of £2bn, has always said he has no plans to retire. He has, however, said he would step aside if convicted in Germany.