Car giants’ buy-out for good of F1, says Haug

DaimlerChrysler (Mercedes), Renault, Ford (Jaguar), Fiat (Ferrari) and BMW are the 'Big Five' wanting to buy a stake, but media giant Kirch is currently poised to become the sport's majority shareholder by firstly buying the 50 percent stake held by EM.TV, its ailing rival. EM.TV also has an option to buy another 25 per cent from the trust owned by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, giving Kirch a 75 per cent holding after any buy-out.

But it is believed that Ecclestone and Max Mosley, the president of the sport's governing body, are both against the Kirch deal and would prefer to see EM.TV sell out to the car manufacturers. Ecclestone and the FIA can veto any deal if they believe it is not in the interests of F1.

Although the manufacturers have been reluctant to talk openly about any potential deal, Haug said in this week's Autosport magazine: "It is not the intention of the manufacturers to direct Formula 1. We do not wish to invent new regulations, to throw out the current president, or whatever.

"What we aim for is stability for the future. We are not financially motivated. This is not about getting a share of the cake. But the car manufacturers put a lot of money and prestige into Grand Prix racing, so it is their intention to keep that platform."

World Champion Michael Schumacher has also spoken out on any potential Kirch deal, saying that any move away from terrestrial TV and towards pay-per-view would be damaging to the sport.

"I hear that it could be possible that Formula 1 would be only on pay-per-view television," he said. "I consider that to be a bad idea.

"Much of the audience, which is now so thrilled about Grand Prix racing, could not see the races any more. I would very much oppose that. Everybody should be allowed to see what they want to see, and in my case that would be F1."