Ecclestone involved in Honda rescue process

(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he is closely involved in the sale of Honda's formula one team.

With the Japanese carmaker's end-of-month deadline for a rescue deal looming, the F1 chief executive told Sport Bild that he is looking over those who are bidding for the Brackley based outfit.

"I am helping with the rescue of the team," he confirmed to the German magazine. "I am playing the role of mediator."

Should a buyer not be found by the end of January, F1 – of which Ecclestone's is chief executive of the commercial rights holding company – faces the prospect of a season with just eighteen cars on the grid.

The sale process appeared on shaky ground when team chief executive Nick Fry recently had to deny that his role in vetting rescue bids and his interest in a management buy-out is a conflict of interest.

But a spokesman for the UK government's Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has subsequently clarified that no investigation has been either commenced nor requested.