STOP PRESS: Red Bull Minardi buy-out is go.

Red Bull's rumoured purchase of the Minardi team is expected within the hour, according to sources at Spa-Francorchamps.

The Austrian-based drinks brand is expected to announce that it has done a deal with Minardi boss Paul Stoddart to buy the people's favourite team, ostensibly as a means to groom its young proteges for Formula One.

Although Minardi would not confirm the deal midweek, Crash.net broke news of the talks during last week's Italian GP at Monza, and these now appear to have reached fruition, with Stoddart apparently priming his team before making the news public.