Main shareholder CVC preparing to sell F1 to Red Bull

[abbottcostello]

Bernie Ecclestone has welcomed reports Red Bull might be looking at buying formula one.
Some journalists have speculated there is more than meets the eye to the former world champions’ mischief-making in past weeks, including bemoaning Mercedes’ dominance, criticising rules that are “killing” the sport, and threatening to quit.
Publications including Auto Motor und Sport, Blick and Osterreich have all reported rumours that Red Bull mogul and billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz is looking to sell Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso and “take over from CVC as the main shareholder of formula one”.
“I would be delighted,” F1 supremo Ecclestone told a group of selected reporters in Malaysia.
“They (CVC) would be as well. Their business is buying and selling companies, so if somebody comes along with a good offer then I’m sure they’d sell. They’d have to,” said the 84-year-old.
Christian Horner, a traditional ally of Ecclestone’s and team boss of the premier Red Bull team, said on Friday: “I mean, Red Bull don’t run formula one.”
He had been asked by a journalist at Sepang what Red Bull would do to change F1 if it did promote the sport.
“Red Bull promotes events, it promotes championships and has done so successfully,” said Horner, explaining that he thinks the sporting and technical rules “are driving the costs far too high”.
“I think to get those under control needs a fundamental look at what formula one is and what does formula one need to be in the future,” he added. (GMM)

Ran across this story while surfing for F1 news, does not seem too far-fetched to me.

Link

[Hornet]

I had to check the date of the article just to make sure.

I guess technically it could happen. But I imagine RB will have to put a very tempting amount of money that will encourage the present investors to say yes.

[mirafiori]

I had to check the date of the article just to make sure.

I guess technically it could happen. But I imagine RB will have to put a very tempting amount of money that will encourage the present investors to say yes.

Sergio Marchionne will be interested in this activity if it is true.

[Nand0Nand0]

Sergio Marchionne will be interested in this activity if it is true.

I'm wondering if a certain LDM is involved somewhere around this story?

[fmatiasii]

If this is true then I wonder what will be the future of F1?

[Rob]

i wouldnt take much into this.

[mirafiori]

I'm wondering if a certain LDM is involved somewhere around this story?

I would say no, Luca is very busy with his new role at Alitalia and of course his stake and part owner of Italo.

[abbottcostello]

i wouldnt take much into this.

Yeah, I agree but it is out there.

I seem to remember when Bernie was on trial in Germany & there was talk of him resigning or being forced out, he mentioned Horner as a possible successor.
Trying to look at it objectively it is probably not the worst ownership outcome as long as Deiter doesn't try to give it some "extreme sport" twist. The up side to me would be an owner who actually cares about the sport more than CVC do!

[TigerKing]

Well i certainly don't want to see the Red Bull Ring leave the calendar but if Red Bull becomes a majority share in Formula One i can see two sides:
One side: Since Red Bull want to advertise their drinks, they will try to make the series more entertaining by encouraging more smaller teams to join, bring more exciting tracks (and historic ones) and expand on television horizons.
The Other Side: Since Red bull is a business; they will not care much about the sport as much about the marketing and focus more on television rights and sales rather than teams considering to leave. Also another caveat, Red Bull may bring crazy things like the infamous sprinkler idea bc they may attract the "young audience"
Regardless of how much i don't agree with Bernie, i prefer him over the ruthless Mateschitz.