Germany's Sport Bild made the claim last week, after it emerged ousted Ferrari president Montezemolo had been appointed to the board but only as a non-executive director.

Now, Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport is also claiming that F1 owner CVC intended for Montezemolo to become chairman, but the move was blocked by new Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne.

"That is the reason why Peter Brabeck continues as chairman although he had resigned for health reasons," said the Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo.

It means that with former Diageo chief Paul Walsh also stepping back from the role and becoming merely a non-executive director, F1 is still seeking a new chairman.

"We will find somebody," Ecclestone is quoted by F1 business journalist Christian Sylt in the Independent. "Lots of people are in the frame.

"It will probably come up at the next board meeting next year. I don't want to be chairman. That's the last thing I need," the sport's chief executive added.