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F1: Berger Denies Tariko Toro Rosso Bid
Written by: Adam Cooper
RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
03/18/2008 - 12:06 PM
Singapore, Malaysia
 
Berger: no deal imminent. (LAT photo) ยป More Photos

Team co-owner Gerhard Berger has denied that Roustam Tariko is a potential buyer of Scuderia Toro Rosso, despite the Russian billionaire’s presence as a guest of the team in Australia last weekend.

Tariko was ranked as the 150th richest man in the world by Forbes magazine last year, and is said to be worth $5.4b. He is the founder of the Russian Standard vodka brand, which he later transferred successfully to consumer banking.

Tariko tried to get involved in F1 in 2005, with his then-friend Eddie Irvine acting as a consultant. The pair nearly concluded a deal to buy Jordan from Midland only months after the latter purchased the team, but Alex Shnaider got cold feet after the news was leaked to the media. Tariko later came very close to buying Minardi, before Red Bull appeared on the scene.

Disillusioned by the collapse of the latter deal, Tariko appeared to have lost interest in F1 and also fell out with Irvine.
However he appeared in Melbourne in the company of Berger. He reportedly told Colin Kolles – who was involved in Tariko’s failed Jordan bid – that he was once again interested in buying into a team, a change of heart that may have been inspired by Vijay Mallya’s success in raising his profile.

However, speaking exclusively to SPEEDtv.com in Melbourne, Berger denied that Tariko has intentions in that direction.

“Not to put any speculation on it, he’s been for three or four days in Sydney,” said Berger. “I know him and he said, ‘Gerhard, I would like to see the Grand Prix,’ and I said come here. There is no intention to buy, and there is no intention to sell.

“Any sponsor would be welcome, but that’s not the reason why he’s here. The reason why he is here is because made some holiday here and he wanted to come to the Grand Prix.”
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