Photos of Bernie Ecclestone giving a middle finger salute are complementing reports on Thursday about the F1 chief executive’s birthday.

F1′s chief executive and long-time ‘supremo’ is turning 80, and Red Bull marked the forthcoming occasion in Korea last weekend with a mischievous present.

It was a zimmer frame, featuring a Red Bull front wing and a special F1-style steering wheel with a range of custom buttons.

One of the buttons was labelled ‘Viagra’, another ‘Nurse’, and yet another ‘Pasquale’ — referring to his ever-present assistant Pasquale Lattuneddu.

Posing at the front of the Red Bull garage with Christian Horner and his favourite driver Sebastian Vettel, Ecclestone greeted the massed photographers with good humour and the obscene single-finger gesture.

And according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Ecclestone does not intend to mark the occasion of his actual birthday on Thursday.

“I hate parties,” he said.

When asked what he really wants for his 80th birthday, the Briton was quoted a few days ago by the German weekly Die Zeit: “I just want to get there.”

Michael Schumacher on Thursday proved that his on-track struggles this season have not dented his sense of humour.
At a team press conference in Hungary, the seven time world champion tried to answer a questioner but found that his microphone was not working.

Boss Norbert Haug leaned over and pressed a button, moving Schumacher to laugh: “If Norbert touches it, it works.

“Maybe he should touch my car, and it will work too!” added the 41-year-old.

Schumacher reinforced that he is staying calm in order to work on the technical deficiencies, in order to mount a championship challenge in 2011.

But in Hungary, organisers of the 25th formula one race in Budapest are not unhappy with Schumacher.

According to SID news agency, ticket sales are 10 per cent higher than in 2009, and “we have Michael Schumacher to thank for that,” confirmed Hungaroring vice president Tamas Frank.

A grandstand at the track is even named after the famous German.

“A great idea,” laughed the chirpy Schumacher.