Mercedes-Benz could rethink its involvement in unless the commercial terms it is being offered to continue in the sport are altered, with sources suggesting the carmaker is also considering a legal challenge under the .
are the only remaining manufacturer-backed team yet to reach any sort of agreement with , with negotiations becoming increasingly discordant.
On a day of high drama in Malaysia, Formula One’s chief executive dropped a bombshell prior to qualifying by releasing a statement announcing that he had now reached an agreement with a «majority» of teams, including , and , over «the terms on which they will continue competing in Formula One after the current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of this year».
While the remaining teams who have reached an agreement were not named, it is believed they are Force India, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Lotus.
That would leave Williams, Caterham, Marussia, HRT and Mercedes GP as teams yet to agree terms.
Of those, Mercedes GP are by far the biggest and also the only ones who can realistically stand their ground since their parent company ‘ Mercedes-Benz and, by extension, Daimler ‘ does not exist for Formula One and could theoretically take its money elsewhere; unlike Williams, for instance, who exist to race.
Mercedes GP are understood to be unhappy about the fact that the terms being offered to the top teams are not the same.
Last weekend an unsigned version of the new Concorde Agreement appeared to suggest that special incentives were being offered to certain teams, with Ferrari potentially getting a shareholding in the sport ‘ although sources suggest that is deeply unlikely ‘ and both Ferrari and Red Bull getting seats on the board of Formula One’s holding company.
In the leaked document there were also cash bonuses being offered to teams who had won the constructors’ title since 2000, teams who had not changed their name since 2000 and an annual ‘Double Champions’ payment for teams who had won titles ‘in any two or more consecutive seasons including or after the 2008 season’.
Those terms would heavily favour McLaren, Ferrari, and reigning champions Red Bull.
Mercedes declined to comment on the situation on Saturday, but it is understood that their owners are prepared to play hardball and may even explore legal action under EU competition law, specifically Articles 101 and 102, which involve the restriction of competition and abuse of a dominant position.
Mercedes’ displeasure may well be exacerbated by the fact that McLaren ‘ their key allies in the Formula One Teams Association following the departures of Red Bull and Ferrari last December, and another team who have consistently preached a message of unity ‘ have also reached an ‘agreement’ with Ecclestone, although it remains unclear how binding that is.
A team spokesperson would only confirm that the team was «in broad agreement» with the commercial rights holder.
It is unclear whether McLaren have managed to secure a better deal since last weekend.
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