Mercedes set to remain in F1

07/09/2012

Mat Coch writes:

Mercedes looks set to remain in Formula One beyond the current Concorde Agreement according to team boss Ross Brawn.

The German marque had threatened to walk away from the sport after it was revealed Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren had been awarded positions on the Formula One board should the sport be floated. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone brokered the deal which kept the three 'grandiose' teams in the sport long term, protecting the sport's future.

Mercedes took exception to the situation, believing it was entitled to similar treatment. This triggered a stand-off between the car company and Formula One with Mercedes threatening to leave if it didn't get its way.

However, Ross Brawn has now revealed the German manufacturer is certain to remain in the sport. "There's no doubt," he said in Monza. "I think Mercedes are very committed to Formula One.

"We've had some tough discussions and I've no doubt that we will be able to close those discussions soon and obviously that's a high level of commitment," he added. "We're working with Bernie to find the best solution and I think we're very close."

Mercedes entered Formula One in 2009 having purchased the Brawn team after it won the 2009 world championship. It was the first time the German company had competed in Formula One as a manufacturer in its own right since 1955 when it won the championship with Juan-Manuel Fangio and the W196.