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Ecclestone unfazed by talk of buyouts and breakaways

Bernie Ecclestone: "There have been enough times that people wanted to do a breakaway but they haven't succeeded" © Getty Images

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Bernie Ecclestone has brushed aside suggestions that the Formula One teams might take an ownership stake in F1 or set up a rival series in order to have a bigger say in the future of their sport.

Ever since News Corporation and Italian investment company Exor showed an interest in buying the sport last week, Ecclestone has been consistently playing down any talk of a sale. Over the Turkish Grand Prix weekend he again confirmed that current owner "CVC has given the answer. They are the major shareholders and they do not want to sell. That is 100% for sure."

But while buyout talks may not go any further, the F1 teams, Ecclestone (on behalf of CVC) and the FIA will have to come to an agreement over a new Concorde Agreement in 2012. All three parties are interested in getting a better deal from the document that binds the commercial aspects of F1 together, but the teams have been the most vocal and made several demands over the weekend.

Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) chairman Martin Whitmarsh said on Friday: "We want to see investment. Whether that is with existing partners or future partners."

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali added: "We want clear rules, stability in the regulations, the return of some European circuits, a reduction in ticket prices, and finally a closer relationship with the public and especially the younger generation."

Referring to the 2012 Concorde Agreement, FOTA vice chairman Eric Boullier said: "After that, there is nothing binding the teams to FOM (Formula One Management)." This last comment has spurred speculation that the F1 teams might threaten to create a breakaway series, possibly with backing from the News Coporation and Exor consortium.

But Ecclestone is not fazed by the jostling for position over the new agreement, saying on Saturday: "There have been enough times that people wanted to do a breakaway but they haven't succeeded up until now. We've had five or six Concorde Agreements and there is always these sorts of discussions going on before. It's normal foreplay before these things happen."

And he scoffed at the teams' suggestion on Friday that they want to own part of the sport they compete in.

"I go to a restaurant in London two or three times a week (but there's) not a lot of point in me going and saying to the owners that I want a share of the restaurant just because I eat there," he said.

He added: "You have to be careful about such rumours, but then again rumours are part of Formula One and always have been. I hope these people come to their senses. The teams should be happy to have somebody like CVC not selling to the wrong people, trying to maintain a good level for them and supporting me so that I can go to work and earn some money for the teams."

Focusing again on the possibility of News Corporation taking control of the sport, Ecclestone said F1 would not fit its owner Rupert Murdoch's preference for showing sports on pay television.

"They have been trying to buy the TV rights from us for a long time, but we won't because they are not free-to-air television broadcasters," he said. "They are a subscription service. Very recently they wanted to do something in Germany, in the UK and in Italy, where they are, but we couldn't do it. Sky is doing an incredible job but if you look at their audience they are nowhere. With these figures it would be almost impossible for teams to find sponsors. That would be suicidal."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.