F1 boss linked to new team for 2000

The 68-year-old may help start a new outfit as a way of filling up the vacant 12th slot on the grid.

It 'looks like' there will be a 12th team in 2000,' he said but denied that he was specifically trying to set one up.

'I sold my team a long time ago,' he said, referring to the Brabham outfit he ran in the '70s and '80s.

'We've got enough teams trying to come in, we don't need to invent one.'

When Honda decided to can plans to set up its own works team it left a vacant slot meaning their main rival Toyota, who is planning to race in 2001, no longer has to buy a team.

Team bosses would welcome a 12th entry because the value of all the constructors would rocket again

It seems certain that the new outfit will be powered by Supertec.

What is less clear is who will run it and how it will be set up. Rumours suggest Ecclestone will take over the Honda Racing Development company while another possible option could be for the team itself to be called Supertec.

It could be run by ex-Benetton boss Flavio Briatore and employ the HRD staff.