Sky and Liberty join £4bn race for F1
Daniel Dunkley Published: 28 June 2015
Bernie Ecclestone, who holds a 5% stake in the international motor-racing franchise, is said to be keen to maintain significant involvement Bernie Ecclestone, who holds a 5% stake in the international motor-racing franchise, is said to be keen to maintain significant involvement (Corbis)
BROADCASTING giant Sky and John Malone’s Liberty Global are weighing offers for a £4.5bn controlling stake in Formula One, gatecrashing the plans of a Qatari-backed consortium to take control of the sport.
Last week it emerged that RSE Ventures, a company founded by the Miami Dolphins American Football tycoon Stephen Ross, had teamed up with Qatar Sports Investments, the owner of French football club Paris Saint-Germain, to work on a bid for the global motor-racing series.
But insiders say the RSE-Qatari team is just one of several buyers in contact with CVC, the private equity firm that owns the F1 stake.
City sources said Sky and Liberty, which have long coveted F1, have held informal discussions with CVC about a deal. The Canadian fashion tycoon Lawrence Stroll, who helped to build the Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors brands, has also been linked with a bid
