Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he is doing all he can to help Virgin Group owner Richard Branson take over the troubled Honda Racing team and has officially given the move his blessing after it became known that the Group had indeed placed a bid for the team.

"I've spoken to Richard's people about it. He would love to do it," Ecclestone told Reuters. “I'd like it very much. It would be super. We're working to try to make it happen."

However, with the clock rapidly counting down to the season opening Grand Prix, there is still no sign that Honda will accept the bid on offer or go with the proposed takeover by current team boss, Nick Fry, or, close the team altogether, a move the Japanese company has yet to rule out…..

"It's true that we are pursuing several potential buyers,” Honda spokesman Hiroyuki Murase told the Associated Press. “But the team may still have to be disbanded if the negotiations fail."

While it is thought that the takeover by Fry is the most preferred option for Honda at this stage, Ecclestone has made it clear that he would prefer to see Branson in the sport….

"We would welcome them with open arms," he told the Mirror. "He's exactly the type of person we would want in the sport. Sir Richard Branson is a wonderful guy. I met him at Monza last year and we got on very well."