Ecclestone says he, Mackenzie, could buy F1

Yet another potential buyer for F1’s commercial rights has emerged.

Earlier, it was reported that current owner CVC and Bernie Ecclestone could sell their respective stakes to a consortium involving the Miami Dolphins’ Stephen Ross and Qatar’s sports investment arm.

But also reportedly interested is Sky and international telcom Liberty, and separately the Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, whose 16-year-old son Lance is linked with a Williams race seat for 2017.

As for the latest interested buyers, however, there is a twist.

F1 supremo Ecclestone told The Times that CVC’s Donald Mackenzie is "in love" with formula one.

"This is the only business that CVC have bought in which Donald has shown an interest," said the 84-year-old.

And The Guardian newspaper has now quoted Ecclestone as saying: "He (Mackenzie) may have to sell his shares. Whether he will invest himself, maybe with me separately, we will have to wait and see."

But Mackenzie has denied Ecclestone’s claim that CVC "has to" sell up eventually.

"We have 12-year funds, which we have to return the original money," he explained. "We have already done that. So the pressure’s off."