New era for F1 as Liberty agrees $8 billion takeover

Formula One entered a new era on Wednesday as US billionaire John Malone's Liberty Media agreed a takeover that values the motorsport at $8 billion and raises questions over the role of its colourful, long-time mastermind, Bernie Ecclestone. In a deal that ends years of speculation over F1's future, Liberty said it had struck an agreement to buy out Formula One's parent company from CVC Capital, and had already acquired a minority stake of 18.7 percent. Liberty Media group will pay a total equit