Formula 1 motorsport boss Bernie Ecclestone has been described as not "reliable or truthful" by a British High Court judge despite winning a legal fight with a German media company.
Mr Justice Newey made the criticisms on Thursday as he ruled on a dispute between Mr Ecclestone, 83, and Constantin Medien at a High Court hearing in London.
Mr Ecclestone had been accused of entering into a "corrupt agreement" with a banker to facilitate the sale of the Formula 1 Group to a buyer chosen by him.
Constantin Medien said it lost out as a result of the deal and wanted millions of pounds in compensation.
Mr Ecclestone, chief executive of the Formula 1 Group, said Constantin Medien's claim "lacks any merit" and denied any conspiracy.
The judge dismissed the claim today.
But he concluded that payments made were a "bribe".
He said they were made because Mr Ecclestone had entered into a "corrupt agreement" with the banker in 2005.
But he said no loss to Constantin has been shown to have been caused and therefore the company's claim failed.
Mr Justice Newey said Mr Ecclestone had spoken of being "shaken down" by Dr Gribkowsky. But the judge said evidence tended to undermine the claim, and added that bribery was "far more probable".
The judge said evidence given by Mr Ecclestone contained inconsistencies and was "unsatisfactory".
Constantin said it would appeal.
"The judge ruled against Constantin essentially on technical grounds ... and Constantin will be appealing those findings," said lawyer Keith Oliver, head of commercial fraud litigation at Peters and Peters Solicitors.
"The judge found it impossible to regard Bernie Ecclestone as a reliable or truthful witness."
