Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff has described Brexit as the "mother of all messes" and believes a no-deal outcome would be a "nightmare scenario" for Formula 1, particularly those based in the UK.
The UK is set to leave the EU at the end of March and with no deal agreed by parliament, a so-called 'no-deal Brexit' could be outcome, which Wolff believes would hand a major advantage to Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, the only two teams that aren't British based.
“I can see very much if a ‘no deal’ Brexit would happen like [has] been discussed, I think it would have a major impact in terms of our operation going to the races and getting our cars developed and ready. So that is a nightmare scenario that I don’t want to even envisage.
“Ferrari in Italy, Sauber [Alfa Romeo] in Switzerland, they would have a massive advantage over every UK based team."
Although Mercedes is a German-based company, both its F1 team and engine factories are based in the UK, which has led the company to begin considering alternative plans which Wolff hinted could include relocating its factory.
“We are F1 teams that travel to races and tests at least 21 times a year. We are moving in and out of the UK, our people move in and out of the UK, the way we are getting parts and services is just-in-time at the last minute into the UK and any major disruption in borders or with taxes would massively damage the Formula 1 industry in the UK.
"We are looking at the various scenarios with Mercedes-Benz UK because it not only impacts Formula 1 but it impacts also the mother brand in terms of getting cars and parts in and out of the country.
"Our team is an international team. We are a German car brand that has its own Formula 1 operations in the United Kingdom, we have many different nationalities.
"[It's] the mother of all messes."
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