Ecclestone steps in to solve Caterham dispute

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has decided to resolve the issue that is threatening the future of Caterham's participation in next week's US Grand Prix.

The team's future in Formula One is in doubt after administrators locked down their factory Thursday.

"We're trying to help in any way we can, which we do with anybody that has run into a bit of difficulty. All I know is what I've been told. Not too sure it's all true either," Ecclestone said.

He said he could not predict the future of the team because "it is a little bit too complicated to be able to say anything with any real knowledge".

Ecclestone has discussed the situation with both sides involved in the dispute involving the new owners and founder Tony Fernandes.

The dispute erupted Wednesday when the new owners threatening to quit the team, a day after the company that built the cars - Caterham Sports Ltd (CSL) - was put in charge of administration.

The new owners claimed that CSL is not part of their business and the cars should be released to them so they can continue preparations for the final part of the season, BCC reports.

The US Grand Prix is slated Oct 31-Nov 2 in Austin, Texas, but the cars are due to be flown out to the US.

"I would think, knowing Colin Kolles, he's a competent guy. He has managed to get in there and clean things up a lot, stop them wasting money and trying to get it on track," said Ecclestone.

Though he has been pushing big teams to supply customer cars to be run by smaller teams, Ecclestone says his preference is for small teams such as Caterham to survive.