Mercedes open to supplying a fourth team
Norbert Haug has revealed that Mercedes-Benz has no qualms about supplying a fourth team with engines for the 2010 season.
Mercedes currently supply three teams on the grid, with Brawn GP, Force India and works team McLaren all running German-manufactured power plants.
Speculation continues to suggest that Red Bull Racing will switch from Renault to Mercedes engines at the end of the season – a move which the Milton Keynes team have refused to rule out.
For Mercedes to supply four teams with engines it would require the FIA to grant special dispensation, due to the current rule which permits only a works deal plus a single customer arrangement per manufacturer. Such concessions have already been made to Mercedes this year, in the case of Brawn GP.
Mercedes appear keen to supply a fourth team in 2010 with their competition director, Norbert Haug admitting to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “From a capacity point of view we are able to supply a fourth team. We have agreed with our negotiating partners not to disclose the progress of the talks.”
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Alex 3 | Aug 26, 2009 | Reply
At the end of the day why not have Haug supply all the engines and someone build all the chassis and then we will have an F1 version of the IRL.
This sport is about competition on the track and off. Design, technology, innovation, tactics and strategy are what differentiates teams.
It seems to me that a works team and 3 customers is more than enough.