Bernie Ecclestone steps in to diffuse growing Caterham ownership row

Sport360 staff 20:31 23/10/2014
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  • Taking control: Bernie Ecclestone (r) has been forced to get involved with the Caterham dispute.

    Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has stepped into the crisis engulfing the beleaguered Caterham team after a row over ownership threatened its future in the sport.

    The new owners of the backmarkers and previous chief Tony Fernandes have been locked in a bitter and public war of words which could see the team struggle to make the United States Grand Prix on November 2.

    "We're trying to help in any way we can, which we do with anybody that has run into a bit of difficulty," Ecclestone told the BBC. "All I know is what I've been told. Not too sure it's all true either. It is a little bit too complicated to be able to say anything with any real knowledge."

    On Thursday, the combative Fernandes accused the consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern businessmen who took charge of the outfit in June of failing to honour their obligations.

    His accusation came just 24 hours after Engavest, which represents the group, threatened legal action against the Malaysian.

    The consortium claimed there has been no transfer of shares that would make their ownership of the team legally binding and that, as a consequence, Fernandes is again in charge.

    But Fernandes hit back before former F1 team boss Colin Kolles, working as an advisor to Engavest, disputed Fernandes' claims.

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