DECEMBER 4, 2000

Ecclestone brokering sale of Minardi in US

FORMULA 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is often involved in talks when teams are being sold and this week we hear Ecclestone was in New York talking to a large investment bank about buying the small Italian outfit which is currently floundering somewhat after the collapse of a deal between current owner Gabriele Rumi and the South American TV company PSN.

It is not clear which company Ecclestone was visiting but a number of big US investment banks have shown interest in F1 in recent months, notably JP Morgan, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse First Boston and Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette. It may just be a coincidence that Credit Suisse recently took over DLJ.