F1: Ecclestone says rumored commercial takeover deal won't affect his role

The European media has been rife with reports that a long-rumored purchase of a sizable stake in F1's commercial holdings by Colorado-based John Malone's Liberty Global Plc and Discovery Communications Inc. is imminent, but the sport's commercial manager Bernie Ecclestone expressed confidence at the Italian Grand Prix that his oversight of the sport would not be affected one way or the other.

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Private equity firm CVC currently controls the voting rights of the sport's parent company Delta Topco, but is understood to have been interested in sellling them for years. Malone's group was first linked with a potential purchase of a stake in 2014, and reports claim an $8.5 billion deal could be concluded starting this week.

Speaking to reporters in the Monza paddock, the 85-year-old Ecclestone indicated he would remain at the helm no matter how the commercial ownership of the sport might change, unless he was to decide otherwise.

"I will do what I have always done," Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport, which claimed on Saturday that the first half of the payment for the stake will be transferred on Tuesday. "What role I play is my decision."

What changes Liberty and Malone might want to make, should they indeed obtain a controlling interest, remains to be seen, although it would presumably include an effort to raise F1's profile in the United States, something the sport's involved automakers have long sought. It could also include a more active marketing effort for the sport as a whole, which has been an increasing point of contention in recent years. Malone's multimedia group, whose assets include cable TV and internet services, could provide useful synergy in expanding the sport's media footprint.