0
Mercedes is keen and ready in the event that F1 needs to deploy three-car teams as quickly as 2016.
That is the admission of Toto Wolff, who sounds even more enthusiastic about expanding the teams already at the front of the grid than helping to resolve the crisis that could leave Red Bull's two teams without engines.
So if it falls to the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren to add third cars and drivers to their respective garages, "I think it would give the driver market some movement and it would be exciting for the fans," boss Wolff told Spox.
"I think it would excite the fans seeing guys like (Mercedes' Pascal) Wehrlein and (McLaren junior) Stoffel Vandoorne taking on the superstars in those cars," he added.
The devil, however, could be in the detail, as expanding to three-car operations could simply add to the predictability of F1 in the already controversial new power unit era.
Wolff agreed: "We must ensure that there are not three Mercedes or three Ferraris on the podium. This is the kind of detail that we would have to work out.
"Personally, I like the idea, but I alone do not make the rules," he acknowledged.
Wolff's 'plan B' to give new DTM champion Wehrlein his race debut next year is Manor, but the German has denied that the backmarker team's new engine contract gives Mercedes first pick over the occupant of the cockpit.
Indeed, Auto Motor und Sport said Wolff and Manor are currently arguing over money, with the team demanding $10 million and Mercedes willing to pay only $3m.
"There are various alternatives," Wolff is quoted by the German broadcaster RTL. "But we are not willing to get Pascal into a car at any price."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
24 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Stoffel Vandoorne
483,777 comments on Ferrari 279 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Ferrari
Replies (0)
Login to reply