By Adam Tate, Managing Editor
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that there are at least two potential buyers interested in taking over CVC capital partner’s 35% stake in F1 and that a sale price has been agreed to. All that remains is for CVC to decide whether or not they are finished bleeding Formula One dry and agree to sell.
Miami Dolphin’s owner Stephen Ross has built a consortium with Qatar Sports Development and they are reportedly open to a seven to eight billion dollar bid. Their main competition seems to be a potential bid from China, but details on it have not yet been made public.
I think CVC will make a decision on the sale sooner or later. There are people who want to buy. Actually, two of the people have agreed the price. It’s just a question of whether CVC wants to sell or not. You don’t know what’s going to happen until somebody buys and you see what they are like. How do you know if you will get on with them? – Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie’s typically cagey statement, imbued with a question at the end, shows he is still keeping the cards close to his vest. Whether or not he will remain as F1’s defacto dictator will be very much up to the sports new owners. Whether or not he will be a new man without CVC riding his back, or if he is well and truly past it, will quickly become major talking points, should CVC finally release the sport from its chains.
