IMHO Bernie is very, very clever

[skeggysteve]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73357

I know there is a Branson thread running but I wanted to highlight this.

The media has been full of Branson buying Honda but as we know it's just speculation.

So Autosport run this story, linked above, call me a cynic but my take on it is that Bernie is playing a very clever game.

[10 Pence Short]

I don't see what is spectacularly clever about that? Just a fairly simple put up or shut up.

[andyps]

Clever, or you could say devious. Keeps F1 in the news, which is what the commercial rights holder needs. Also great advance publicity for what could genuinely be the new owners of an F1 team, and helps show others that it isn't just a manufacturers game now.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Yeah, I was musing over his divorce too. Inheritance tax mitigation perhaps?

[mattikake]

andyps said:

Clever, or you could say devious. Keeps F1 in the news, which is what the commercial rights holder needs. Also great advance publicity for what could genuinely be the new owners of an F1 team, and helps show others that it isn't just a manufacturers game now.

My thoughts exactly. Richard Branson is an important and influential figure to have attached to F1. And you wonder if a team would just be the start for such an entrepeneur...?

[Chrisgr31]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Yeah, I was musing over his divorce too. Inheritance tax mitigation perhaps?

Strange that I was pondering exactly the same last week! Don't know enough about inheritance tax though. However if it was a way of him passing money on untaxed I wouldn't be surprised if he was using it.

[nc107]

Also if he is able to gain an influence in a team (and maybe a financial stake ?) he will be able to frustrate the current FOTA love in, and maybe vote against asking for extra money from his other company. A cunning little fox !

[motormania]

!!!!

This thread is a none starter!!!!!!