According to Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, Marussia could be saved at the eleventh hour or within 10 days says Sky Sports F1.
“I had a meeting with someone this morning that said they want to, and think they can buy Marussia, so that would be good,” he said in a Sky Sports News HQ exclusive interview.
“Caterham, I don’t think there is much chance of saving them, but Marussia there is a chance. Maybe within 10 days I think we will be able to say whether it is going to happen or not.”
Both teams have a compelling asset (the FIA official participation license in the F1 series) that could lure potential F1 aspirants but only one team has an approximate $30 million windfall for just showing up on the grid in Australia. This is prize money for Marussia’s 9th position in the Constructor’s Championship. This makes the team and their official entry license a more attractive target for would-be buyers.
The team spent most of its life as a backmarker in F1 but in 2014 it scored well in Monaco and secured 9th in the constructor’s championship title race earning big dollars for their efforts. However, Ecclestone would like to see the team do more than just show up in Australia:
“We don’t want someone who is just going to limp on, that is just want we don’t want,” he added. “We went through this whole saga at the end of last year and we don’t want to go through it again.”
More to the point, a well-funded team owner is who Mr. E is looking for as to avoid the financial drama of the two teams falling into administration (bankruptcy) and Caterham peddling wares in a crowdfunding gambit to raise cash.
Haas F1 was rumored to be speaking to Marussia but has denied they are buying the team rather their building in which to host their UK efforts and create a race operations in between grands prix. Time will tell but I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the team and I even won one of their backpacks so I’m a loyal fan. Let’s get this team back on the grid even if it is a junior team for Ferrari (like Toro Rosso) and let’s do it for Jules Bianchi!
Hat Tip: Sky Sports F1
