However this extraordinary claim, made live on Channel 4, was immediately scotched both by Ecclestone and Donald Mackenzie, the chairman of CVC. “I would be very surprised if there was any announcement this week,” Mackenzie said. “As far as I am aware, Bernie is going nowhere. Nothing has changed.”

Ecclestone described reports of a deal as “b------t”.

On a confusing day even in the chaotic world of F1 politics, what is clear is that Liberty Media is in the running to complete a deal to buy the sport, which would be the first change of ownership in more than a decade.