F1 people might reject Murdoch bid now says Bernie Ecclestone

By ,

Adapted from GMM

The News Corporation scandal might have damaged the Murdochs' plans to take over formula one.

That is the claim of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone , who said he feels "sorry" for Rupert Murdoch amid the fallout of the phone hacking scandal and closure of the News of the World.

"I'm terribly sorry for Rupert, who I know quite well, and James (Murdoch) because they are running their businesses very well," Bernie Ecclestone told the Telegraph .

"If they were to bid for F1 they might find that people would object to it. We have still had no contact from News Corp about a takeover of F1."

The 80-year-old also ruled out a move for F1 to Murdoch's pay-TV networks and said he hoped the sport stayed with the BBC in Britain.

"Let's wait and see about the BBC because at the moment they want to make a noise. I can't see how the BBC could cancel (its contract). We could probably sue them," said Bernie Ecclestone.