F1: Mercedes downplay quit report

Mercedes has moved to play down reports that it could be set to walk away from F1. A report in The Times had called into question if Mercedes would continue in the sport due to disagreements over the make up of the board of F1 when it floats on the stock exchange [See separate story - HERE]. Mercedes look set to be the only one of the front-running teams not to earn a place on the board, which had led to speculation that it could walk away from the sport, despite investing hundreds of millions of pounds in recent years and just a matter of weeks after securing a first win in the modern era. Initially there had been no comment from Mercedes into the report, although a spokesman has now revealed that discussions with F1 owners CVC are ongoing and there is no suggestion that a departure from the sport is imminent. "We are in discussions with the commercial rights holder,” a spokesman told Sky Sports, “and we would like to ask for your understanding that we are not currently commenting on these discussions."