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Formula 1: US-Qatari investors 'to bid for sport' | Formula 1: US-Qatari investors 'to bid for sport' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The Miami Dolphins American football team owner Stephen Ross is working with investors from Qatar to buy a stake in Formula 1 racing, the BBC understands. | |
Mr Ross's RSE Ventures, backed by Qatar Sports Investments, plan a bid for CVC Capital Partners' 35.5% controlling stake in the holding company that owns F1. | |
The deal could be worth up to $8bn, and help build F1's presence in the US. | |
But negotiations are at an early stage, BBC sports editor Dan Roan says. | |
And the group is just one of a number of potential bidders, he adds. | |
No formal bid has been made yet and there is no guarantee that CVC would sell. | |
The move comes as Formula One racing grapples with falling viewing figures, controversial race rules and soaring costs, all of which have led to some teams struggling for sponsorship. | |
RSE was founded by property billionaire Stephen Ross, whose company has been in talks with ex-England footballer David Beckham about bringing a Major League Soccer team to Miami. | |
F1 currently only has one race in the United States on its calendar, in Texas. | F1 currently only has one race in the United States on its calendar, in Texas. |
But the sport may have a better chance of building a stronger American presence with the backing of a businessman already established in the US sports industry. | But the sport may have a better chance of building a stronger American presence with the backing of a businessman already established in the US sports industry. |
CVC, whose interests in F1 are looked after by Bernie Ecclestone, has been F1's biggest shareholder for about a decade, although in the last few years it has reduced its stake. | |
In 2012, CVC came close to floating the sport's holding company on the Singapore stock market. | |
The firm has also held talks with US-based Liberty Media and Discovery Communications about a sale. | The firm has also held talks with US-based Liberty Media and Discovery Communications about a sale. |
Qatar Sports Investments, which owns the Paris St-Germain football club, was not available for comment. | |