MAY 26, 1997

Rumi to buy control of Minardi?

RUMORS in Barcelona suggested that Fondmetal boss Gabriele Rumi is in the process of acquiring Flavio Briatore's shareholding in the company which owns 70% of the shares in the Minardi F1 team. Rumi, Briatore and former driver Sandro Nannini were part of a "a pool of international entrepreneurs" which bought control of the team in November last year. Briatore has had very little involvement in the running of the team and Rumi - who used to own the Fondmetal F1 team - seems to have taken over a more important role.

This would make a lot of sense as there are continuing rumors in the paddock that Briatore may have decided that now is a good time to sell up in F1 and either go into another business - such as football - or retire to spend some of the money which he has made in recent years from wheeling and dealing. The opportunity for such deals in the future is going to reduce once F1 becomes an corporate business and Briatore does not seem to be the kind of entrepreneur who will be comfortable with such restrictions.