Sunday October 27th, 2002

Publisher and founder of F1 Magazine Tom Rubython has left the magazine this weekend, after the publication - owned by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone - was sold to Formula One Management, another Ecclestone-owned company.

The monthly magazine was first published in March 2001 as the official sport's magazine by European Press, which also publishes the financial magazine EuroBusiness. Recently Ecclestone decided to move the ownership of his F1 periodical to FOM. Subsequently, Rubython decided to quit.

"As an entrepreneur I do not make a good employee and, with the change in ownership, I have decided to make the break," Rubython said in a statement. "We have had a tremendous time since launching the magazine in March 2001 and it has been firmly established in the marketplace."

Ecclestone himself thanked Rubython for his work. "F1 Magazine has established itself already as a strong title and Tom has done a super job in establishing it. I am sorry that he has moved on and wish him the best."

Rubython, who also resigned from his position as editor of EuroBusiness, also made a name for himself as a prolific writer who did not hesitate to confront key F1 personnel. Among others, he had an outspoken rift with McLaren team chief Ron Dennis, which led the team owner to ban F1 Magazine from McLaren's motorhomes and refuse co-operation with their journalists.

Published at 22:51:49 GMT