Bernie Ecclestone said his Formula One company is not for sale, brushing off reports that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. is interested in taking over the sport.
Sky News said News Corp. has begun talks with Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim about forming a consortium to buy control of F1 from private equity firm CVC Capital.
But Ecclestone, who runs F1 on behalf of CVC, reiterated his intention to stay in control for some time yet.
“It is all rubbish,” Ecclestone told The Times on Wednesday. “Formula One is not for sale. And anyway, we would not sell to a media company because it would restrict the ability to negotiate with other broadcasters.”
The BBC has an agreement to broadcast the F1 world championship in Britain until 2013.
