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Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone will go on trial on bribery charges in Germany.

Munich state court said it decided to send the 83-year-old for trial following his indictment last May.

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A court in Germany rules that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone will go on trial for bribery.

Munich state court said it decided to send the 83-year-old for trial following his indictment last May.

Spokewoman Judge Andrea Titz explained the charges, which relate to a $45 million payment to German banker, Gerhard Gribkowsky.

"The defendant is accused of alleged bribery and incitement to breach of trust. He is accused of allegedly bribing a former board member of the BayernLB to sell the Formula 1 stakes which they owned o a certain investor, who had been chosen by the accused. That meant without thinking about or checking out possible alternatives. In return, he is accused of having paid a total of $45 million to this former board member."

Ecclestone's German lawyers said in a statement that "the alleged bribery did not happen" with Ecclestone's insisting himself that he did "nothing illegal."

"It is now most likely that the trial could start at the end of April. But the court has not yet made a final decision on this."

If found guilty, Ecclestone could face up to 10 years in prison.

Gribkowsky was convicted in 2012 of taking the payment from Ecclestone and was sentenced to 8½ years in prison for corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust.

"The lawsuit has a considerable international interest due to the high profile of the accused, but also due to the fact that it is about stakes in Formula 1. The accused is a quite famous international figure so we can expect a lot of media interest."

In separate legal proceedings, German media company and former F1 shareholder, Constantin Medien, is suing Ecclestone and other defendants for up to $144 million, claiming F1 was undervalued by the deal.