19/02/2009
NEWS STORY
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone claims that Virgin boss Richard Branson is keen to buy the Honda F1 team, though he admits that there is still a long way to go before a deal is completed.
As the clock continues ticking, with Honda in Japan and (prospective engine supplier) Mercedes both setting imminent deadlines, Ecclestone is convinced that Branson wants the deal to go ahead.
"I've spoken to Richard's people about it. He would love to do it," Ecclestone told Reuters tonight. "I'd like it very much. It would be super. We're working to try to make it happen."
With five weeks to go before the 2009 season gets underway, all eyes are on the Brackley team and the 700+ employees whose futures will be decided long before then.
However, despite Ecclestone's assurances that Branson wants to enter F1 the fact is that it is still impossible to predict what is going to happen.
With Virgin grabbing all the headlines, it is unclear what other options might be on the table, and consequently many feel that other than Nick Fry's proposed management buy-out, Branson is the Brackley team's last hope.