Bernie Ecclestone has been formally charged by German prosecutors for bribery, it emerged on Wednesday.
It has been known since May that the Munich prosecutors decided to indict the F1 chief executive for paying millions to jailed former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky amid the sale of the sport some years ago.
Bloomberg quoted a court spokesman as confirming that although the charges were filed in May, they were only served on Wednesday after being translated into English.
He said more details will be released in a court statement.
Briton Ecclestone, 82, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
He said by telephone on Wednesday: "The lawyers have accepted an indictment.
"It means they have to reply to the indictment which they are strenuously doing," Ecclestone is quoted by the Associated Press.
Ecclestone’s German lawyer, and F1 owner CVC, did not comment.