Mercedes in Favor of Three-Man Teams in Formula One
Giancarlo Perlas October 7, 2015
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team boss Toto Wolff stated that he is in favor of putting a third car in the races if the management of the sport decides to go for that direction.
It should be noted that without a clear direction in terms of engine deal on the part of Red Bull, its owner Dietrich Mateschitz is contemplating on pulling out his team from F1, according to Autosport.
The former Constructors Champion indicated that it will be ending its relationship with Renault after the conclusion of the present season following the latter’s failure to deliver a competitive power unit since the new engine regulations took into effect in 2014. Following that, it was reported the group was eyeing a Mercedes engine as a replacement.
The negotiations failed along the way though, which only left Ferrari as a good option for the team. However, the lack of parity between the Ferrari team and its customer teams made Mateschitz decide to forego the offer, based on the source.
The report claimed Mateschitz had lost his interest in the sport due to lack of a clear direction for them, particularly in securing a successful engine deal with Mercedes. With that said, F1 is also at risk of losing Toro Rosso, which is owned by Mateschitz too.
One of the key solutions discussed to fill the void in the grid, if ever Red Bull and Toro Rosso leave the sport, would be the introduction of a third car per team. But Wolff pointed out the third car should be treated as a way to boost competition, not just a way to ensure that the F1 grid will be full in the coming season.
