Ecclestone considering F1 buyback:

The silly rules explain all now.

Devaluing F1, buy it back for cheap, turn it around into the sport it's supposed to be.

Shrewd, but I like it.

 

"It's a perfect plan. So inspired. So devious. Yet so simple."

Who does he think he is, Costanza?

BHW

 

Let's hope.

 

And yet again!:
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LOL a car salesman actually, it's what you'd expect init..

 

Hahaha is that your own handy work Phill...

 

Indeed! Ecclestone is not a fan of the new formula, so I'm very sure he'll change it as soon as he can. He knows exactly what is needed.

LOL!

 

Bernie is a shrewd businessman and is staged to rescue F1 yet again.

 

Only the statement I'm afraid! - I was guided to the picture by the dark side of the Force!

 

Another Bernie bait-and-switch move. He's just increasing the perceived value of F1 to leverage for a max deal with CVC or someone else.

'If a hustler like Bernie is willing to buy it back, then it must have a LOT more money to be made'.

 

Is Bernie ever going to have enough money?


Ago

 

He'll gladly accept payment for an answer.

 

I'd much rather have him in charge then CVC.

 

I think there is more to play here than just Ecclestone is admitting... I think he may be looking to keep the rights so he can sell on to the MFG's consortium - and perhaps CVC has told him either he gets them ( CVC ) out at a profit or he's gone and his companies have to pay back diminished value... i see that as a more realistic business issue. I htink he is on the ropes and could be using this to either protect him self (CVC) cant come after him if he owns F-1 and they have reaped a profit over what they paid... and he ( F-1 ) cant be foreced to testify against him self ( i think ? - not sure of jurisdiction & law in the EU courts)

What ever it is - IT is not about racing.

 

99.99% of the people here are more informed than I about what is happening so just one question? Would it be better for F1 as whole if Bernie took control again or if CVC sold to another consortium or it is just not that simple?

 

In theory Bernie is still in control of F1, he just makes money for the CVC and it's share holders,who keep him in control and, he also holds some shares or a stake in F1 as well, I think.

 

Bambino Holdings owns a minoirty stake ( Bernies daughters trust) ... Bernie may own 5-10% outright. CVC owns the majority.

the FIA sold the commercial rights to F-1 to CVC ... that's all the TV and sponsorship revenue for $100M... for 100 years.

So if Bernie bought back F-1 for Billions... I would hazard that he would have to continue to do super lucrative deals to pay back any debt and or then turn around and re sell to another 3rd party who would keep him in charge.

The FIA has to approve any sale / transfer... and ofcourese the Teams are bound by the Concorde agreement... BUT

if the FIA decided to quit sanctioning F-1 and passed its rights on to a 3rd party - the teams could sign with them as well. its the money Bernie pays to the teams that keep them in line... if someone else came along and paid more... ???????????

It is a house of cards.... but held up by very expensive lawyers and deals... the only thing that keeps people from leaving is the threat of crippling litigation from Bernie & CVC....

 

If you trust Bernie.
I remember that once, maybe even twice, that what he said and what he did didn't correspond exactly.

 

But what he said would have been either so vague or so ambiguous and open to interpretation, that whilst what he did didn't correspond exactly, it did tally up with what he said he would do!

 

Bernie couldn't have phrased that better.

 

Yes, but the problem is that the FIA still sets the formula to which all teams must adhere. Bernie cannot change that on his own.

 

These days the big manufacturers call the tune. Bernie would be better equipped to buck their wishes.