Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone's trial could be concluded as early as next week, Press Association Sport understands.

Ecclestone went on trial in Munich in April charged with bribery of a German banker, and incitement to breach of trust.

In 2006, German regional bank BayernLB sold their 47.2 per cent stake in F1 to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, who are the current majority shareholders,

Prosecutors claim Ecclestone paid Gerhard Gribkowsky, formerly the chief risk officer of BayernLB, a bribe of $44 million to steer the sale to CVC.

Ecclestone has long maintained his innocence, claiming he was "shaken down" by Gribkowsky who was threatening to inform HM Revenue & Customs he controlled an offshore family trust known as Bambino Holdings.

Although Ecclestone has continually insisted the trust is not in his name, if an investigation had uncovered to the contrary he would have been liable for a tax bill of around £2 billion.

With the trial running for just over three months, on Tuesday it was halted after 83-year-old Ecclestone reportedly offered to pay a substantial sum of money, believed to be €25 million, to BayernLB in return for the charges being dropped.

Under Bavarian state law, a trial of the nature of Ecclestone's can be concluded if the accused makes a payment to a non-profit making organisation, or the treasury.

Such an offer, however, does not imply any guilt on behalf of the accused.

Ecclestone's lawyers made the offer believing the state defence team's case to be, in their words, "highly questionable", and with the trial proving to be "burdensome" on their client.

Ecclestone continues to run F1 either side of attending court for two days a week, which would result in the trial's conclusion in October were it to run its full course.

Talks regarding the settlement between both sets of lawyers and the court have continued apace since the offer was made.

It is understood witnesses due to give evidence next week have been told not to attend due to the possibility of a deal being struck.

Ecclestone's future as head of F1 hinges on the outcome of the trial as he has previously been warned a guilty verdict, regardless of whether he avoided a prison sentence, would result in his dismissal as chief executive.