Stoddart might be back

He'll spend at least two years out of the F1 limelight, but exiting Minardi boss Paul Stoddart says he's not yet done with the pinnacle of racing.

''I'd like to come back,'' said the Australian, whose sale of the Faenza based minnow to energy drink Red Bull will become official on November 1.

Paul told Reuters: ''Hopefully, with a bit of pressure off, maybe it will give me time to reconsider what … might still be around.''

And, after ruing the possible split of the sport into two, Stoddart will probably be secretly hoping that Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and the carmakers do not settle their row.

''If there are two championships,'' Stoddart continued, ''I would love to come back in the manufacturers' one.''

Sunday's Chinese grand prix will be the last for Minardi, and – for now – its brash boss.

Asked about the decision to sell to billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, Stoddart said: ''I'm still regretting it. It's not an easy decision to make. 'I'm going to miss it too much.''