The rumoured meeting of four team principals from the four biggest teams in Formula One, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes, it would seem, isn’t 100% accurate.
In fact, it is understood that the teams will instead be represented by far more senior members of staff.
Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of Ferrari S.p.A, will represent the Italian marque, whilst Mercedes will send Dieter Zetsche, head of the giant German car company.
Dietrich Matezschitz, owner of current championship leaders, Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso, as well as the giant drinks company behind the name, will also be in attendance.
Is isn’t yet known who will represent McLaren at the meeting, though team principal Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed it won’t be him.
This news is quite significant given these men have far greater powers than their outfits respective team principals.
Recent news that NewsCorp and Exor are looking to takeover the sport from current owners CVC has prompted the meeting and it’s thought that the main players from this consortium will also be attending the meeting to discuss the matter with Montezemolo, Zetsche, Matezschitz and McLaren’s representative.
On Friday, the outspoken leader of Ferrari hinted to CNN that the teams may look at a breakaway series yet again, despite a failed attempt in 2009.
“At the end of 2012, the contract [Concorde Agreement] will expire, so theoretically CVC doesn’t own anything. I think it is important to have alternatives,” he said speaking about a breakaway series. “We will see. We have time to do it,” he added.
Whitmarsh also confirmed that the teams are interested in owning a stake of the sport in which they compete.
“I think it ultimately is desirable to have team ownership of commercial rights,” he told Autosport.
This meeting has prompted speculation that the teams are looking to discuss the matter with the potential new owners, possibly aiding them in taking over the sport if they can agree upon a deal which would see them take some sort of control.
Why is it so significant that such heavyweights will be attending though? In theory, these three men, plus McLaren, have the potential to buy a very large stake in the sport, alongside a possible NewsCorp/Exor bid. They also have the backing of huge multinationals with revenues in the tens of billions.
These are the men who can flash the cash, or make the ultimate decision to form a rival series to F1, not the team principals who are simply employed by these figureheads.
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