[Bart.Vandecavey]

In recent weeks it was announced that German media giant Kirch had to sell of its 75 percent stake in SLEC, Formula One's holding company, in a bid to keep the company afloat. Various buyers' names were speculated upon by the media including F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and the five car manufacturers competing in the sport. It is now apparent that the manufacturers would be interested in buying the sport's commercial rights from Kirch, however only at the right price.

Mercedes boss Juergen Hubbert has said that while the five major car manufacturers involved in Formula One - DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Fiat, Renault and Ford – have not been approached by the troubled media giant, nor have they approached Kirch, they could possibly consider trying to buy the rights. If this should happen it would surely put an end to the threat of a breakaway serious, which was initially prompted by their anger at Kirch buying the marketing rights to the sport.

Hubbert said: "First of all the sum would have to be lowered to something realistic, then you could talk. I have an idea what a realistic sum would be, but I am not going to tell you what that is."

bron f1-live

Ik denk dat hij bedoelt dat ze er elk een euro voor willen geven...