Bernie Ecclestone tips female F1 executive Sacha Woodward-Hill to be next supremo

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Bernie Ecclestone believes one of his most trusted female aides could succeed him as Formula One supremo, almost a decade on from suggesting a woman's place was in the kitchen rather than a race track.

Sacha Woodward-Hill is a name relatively unknown to those outside of Ecclestone's plush Knightsbridge offices from where many of his deals have been done over the years.


But as chief legal officer she has steered the 84-year-old through numerous trouble spots and court cases, including his bribery trial in Munich earlier this year, and is as dedicated a right hand as anyone could be.

Sacha Woodward-Hill is one of Bernie Ecclestone's most trusted aides

Sacha Woodward-Hill is one of Bernie Ecclestone's most trusted aides

It is understood Woodward-Hill holds 17 directorships in F1-connected businesses so understands its workings as well as Ecclestone himself, and in that sense appears the perfect fit. 

It is also believed she has a good rapport with Donald Mackenzie, the co-chairman of private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, F1's primary shareholders. 

Asked directly about Woodward-Hill at an end-of-season briefing, Ecclestone said: 'The people here (in Knightsbridge) would be able to easily follow through what we have put in place. 

Formula One supremo Ecclestone has been troubled by legal fights and court cases

Formula One supremo Ecclestone has been troubled by legal fights and court cases

Women leading the way in sport

LYDIA NSEKERA

The Burundi FA president last year became the first woman elected to FIFA's Executive Committee, winning the vote ahead of Australia's Moya Dodd and Sonia Bien-Aime of the Turks and Caicos Islands - they also joined the committee on a one-year basis as 'co-opted members for special tasks'.

DEBBIE JEVANS

Jevans was a key figure in London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics and was installed as director of sport for the dual event, the first woman to hold such a post. It was such a success that Jevans was appointed chief executive officer of the 2015 Rugby World Cup - another first for a female administrator.

LESA FRANCE KENNEDY

The granddaughter of NASCAR founder Bill France, the 44-year-old is president of International Speedway Corp, which owns and operates several tracks used in the series. She is also a member of the NASCAR board of directors and in 2009 was named as Forbes' most powerful woman in sports.

MONISHA KALTENBORN AND CLAIRE WILLIAMS

Within Ecclestone's own sport, Indian-born Kaltenborn was Formula One's first female team principal when she succeeded former Sauber chief Peter Sauber in October 2012, and has been an outspoken voice in the discussion over the future of some of the lesser marques. Claire Williams was promoted to deputy team principal of Williams in 2013.

HEATHER RABBATTS

Millwall's executive deputy chair was the FA's first female board member. The Jamaica-born barrister was critical of the all-white, all-male make-up of the FA Commission, which later added former England defender Rio Ferdinand to its ranks, and she also chairs the governing body's inclusion advisory board.

KARREN BRADY

Brady was just 23 when she was appointed as managing director of Birmingham City in 1993 and then moved along with club co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold when they took over West Ham in 2010. She was central to the club securing the future use of London's Olympic Stadium.

MARINA GRANOVSKAIA

Roman Abramovich's long-serving associate is an influential figure at Chelsea and has been heavily involved in the signings of Fernando Torres, Diego Costa and the returning Didier Drogba, as well as the return of Jose Mourinho as manager.

'Perhaps if I controlled the board I would probably say it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a woman being the chief executive.

'If I died there are enough people in the company who could continue running it the way we have set things up.

'Would they (CVC) want a front guy? Particularly if they run an IPO (float the sport on the Stock Exchange) then the City would want to see someone I suppose and the right person would come along.'

It is all a far cry to his comments in 2005 shortly after the United States' top female motorsports star Danica Patrick had just finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500.

Ecclestone remarked at the time: 'You know I've got one of those wonderful ideas... women should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances.'

He could hardly say the same about Woodward-Hill, who helped prepare him for his trial in Germany where he could have been jailed for 10 years if found guilty.

Ecclestone took advantage of local legislation to buy his way out of the case midway through at a cost of £60million.

Assessing the past 12 months, Ecclestone added: 'I would say it's been difficult.

'Certain stages of the year have not been as easy as they could have, but I've not been distracted. I have been able to keep my focus.'

After relinquishing numerous board positions to concentrate on the case, as of Monday this week Ecclestone was reinstated.

As far as Ecclestone is concerned, he still has plenty to offer as he said: 'I'm happy here as long as the board are happy.

'When I think I can't deliver any longer I shall retire, but I'm not at that stage, not at the moment.

'I still enjoy what I do. The good thing is every day I get up and I never know what is going to happen. It keeps me on my toes.'

Asked as to whether he felt he was still needed, Ecclestone replied: 'I've a little bit of experience.

'I'm in a good position with people who trust me, rely on me, I shake hands with them and they don't need a contract. They know that's it, the end of it. 

'The only thing is it takes an awful long time to develop that sort of reputation, and whoever does what I do it will take an awful long time for them to achieve that I suppose.'

A fresh face Ecclestone will have to contend with is a new chairman of F1 with former Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe due to step down because of ill health.

Paul Walsh, former CEO of one of the world's largest spirits manufacturers Diageo, is poised to take up the reins.

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