Ecclestone understands Danica Patrick's F1 reluctance

Danica Patrick

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he understands why Danica Patrick is not interested in switching to formula one.

The F1 chief executive said he has been searching for a female driver for his sport "for years".

But American Patrick, who has moved from open wheel Indycars to Nascar, has said she has little interest.

"She has everything a driver needs for F1," Ecclestone told Bild newspaper.

"How old is she?" he asked the reporter.

"At 30," Ecclestone continued once learning the answer, "I can understand why she doesn't want to get into formula one. In the US she is already a superstar."

Meanwhile, the 82-year-old Briton - who has not travelled to Australia for the 2013 season opener - said he hopes Michael Schumacher makes another return to F1, this time to run a team.

"He is and remains a racer," Ecclestone said. "He wants to win.

"He would be a very good team leader. If he wants to? I don't know, but I'd like to see it."

Finally, after Ayrton Senna and Niki Lauda were recently featured in major films, Ecclestone said he has no interest in being the subject of the next one.

"There were movie deals (proposed), but I don't want that," he insisted.

"I don't have the time to waste on something like that."

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