Yet despite all the controversy, Mackenzie and CVC have made it to the 10th anniversary. It is understood that some of his colleagues are bewildered as to why he sticks with a sport whose chief executive, in Ecclestone, said he would not spend his own money going to a race.

There appear to be two vastly different reasons. The first, which explains Mackenzie’s loyalty to Ecclestone, is that the deal has made CVC rich. Or even richer, perhaps. In 2006 they paid around $1.7 billion (£1.2 billion) for a majority stake. Some estimates suggest they have since made between £2.8-3.5 billion. In 2014, turnover was around £1.1 billion, with £630 million going to the teams. Once costs are paid – the teams and race promoters pay most of these – CVC pockets the rest.

But the second reason for Mackenzie’s persistence relates to the historic race in Monte Carlo in May. He has fallen in love with F1, in awe of Ecclestone’s money-making machine. The 85-year-old helped organise for Mackenzie to buy one of Clark’s championship-winning Lotus cars from the 1960s. Clark is an idol to Mackenzie, a fellow Scot.

“Absolutely, 100 per cent he has fallen in love with it,” Ecclestone said. Is he emotionally attached? “Why not? He keeps his business thoughts away from his emotions.”