Mercedes not exactly leaving F1
2012-08-17 10:21
UNCERTAINTIES SURROUND MERCEDES: Many publications and sources have now stated Mercedes won't be leaving F1 entirely, they just plan to re-shape their commitment to the team.
More publications and sources are reporting rumours about Mercedes looking to re-shape its commitment to Formula 1.
French weekly Auto Hebdo reported that the team, yet to sign a new Concorde Agreement, might field only a "semi-official" team from 2014.
The report said the move, with Mercedes remaining an engine supplier but taking a more engineering rather than managerial focus, could see the UK-based team re-badged as 'AMG' for the brand's high-performance arm.
AMG A COMPROMISE
A similar story, reportedly due to "increasingly insistent rumours", is now being told by Italy's Autosprint.
That report said the AMG solution was a compromise in light of the Mercedes board of directors pushing hard for a full F1 withdrawal.
Autosprint said the directors were not satisfied that, three seasons after the Brawn GP rebranding and the reunion of Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher, all Mercedes has to boast is Nico Rosberg's single win.
The report said the "greatest advocate" of the Mercedes GP project has been Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche, who will reportedly step down within a few months.
Also reporting that a "radical change" in Mercedes' F1 commitment was shaping up was French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet, who in his Auto Plus column cited a source who is "known for the veracity of his information".
That source said the matter would be finalised at Mercedes' next board meeting.
