Ecclestone reveals $50m deal for Vietnam GP

Ex Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Liberty Media will have the opportunity to rake in an extra $50million if they can complete a deal that he began to negotiate over bringing a Vietnam Grand Prix to the sport.

Ecclestone's reign over the sport was notable for the number of new locations that F1 travelled to.

The likes of India, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia were all awarded races under Ecclestone, bringing in vast sums of money, although criticisms remain over the loss of iconic races in France and Germany.

Ecclestone remains tied to F1 in an "Emeritus" role, although his influence has waned as Chase Carey has taken over at the head of the sport.

Regardless, the 87-year-old remains a vocal onlooker, and has spoken of one of the deals he had struck before selling to Liberty.

"The deal I could have signed with Vietnam would have been $64 million," Ecclestone told Forbes.

"[Liberty] are going to get the deal done with the people in Vietnam for sure. It will put another 50 odd million on the bottom line."

Ecclestone has commented on a number of issues in the sport as the first pre-season test nears.

He believes Ferrari's threat to quit the sport should be taken seriously, and has advised F1's new chiefs to take electric power seriously.

"We still own the name Formula One, we still have contracts with promoters, let's make different types of cars, let's speak to the manufacturers and start a new all-electric F1, a Formula One for the future," he said.