Mercedes are yet to sign the new Concorde Agreement which Bernie Ecclestone revealed had been signed by the majority of the grid on Saturday morning in Malaysia.
A statement from the 81-year-old confirmed that Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari had signed up to the terms of the agreement which bind them to the sport and decide what share of the profits they receive.
It’s also believed that Lotus, Sauber, Force India, Williams and Toro Rosso have agreed the terms, whilst Caterham, Marussia and HRT haven’t yet been approached.
A statement from the Mercedes outfit revealed very little as to why they haven’t signed the document: “We would like to ask for your understanding that our team currently has nothing to say on this matter,” said a spokesman. “We will, of course, inform you immediately at the appropriate time.”
A recent report revealed some of the terms of the new Concorde deal, with certain clauses favouring other outfits including Ferrari and Red Bull.
These clauses give financial bonuses to teams which have won the constructors’ championship since 2000, as long as they haven’t changed their name since, and a ‘Double Champions’ payout which rewards an outfit that has won the title consecutively in any two or more seasons since 2008.
Mercedes may have won the title in 2009 under the Brawn GP moniker, but because of the name change to Mercedes in 2010, they are not eligble for the payment.
Speculation amongst paddock sources suggests the outfit may either be considering its future in the sport, or looking at taking FOM to the European anti-competition court, claiming it has been unfairly treated with the sports owners offering preferential treatment to its rivals.
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