SEPTEMBER 2, 2005

Red Bull considers Minardi purchase

There are reports that Red Bull is looking at buying the Minardi team in order to transform it into a Red Bull USA team and thus find room for the many drivers it is currently promoting. This would obviously help the promotion of Red Bull in the United States, which is the company's biggest target market at the moment. Coincidentally, it would play into the hands of Bernie Ecclestone, who is trying hard to gather up teams to sign up to the extension of the Concorde Agreement between 2008 and 2012 as Minardi is currently siding with the manufacturers, while Red Bull is solidly in the Ecclestone camp.

The problem for Red Bull is that Minardi boss Paul Stoddart is currently wallowing in offers for his team, the latest word being that he has seven to consider.