Usually do Formula 1 bosses too to separate sport and politics. Not least when the pride visits new countries with dubious regimes.
But a topic to get more of them to shout up: Brexit.
the Prospect of the Uk about a month leaving the EU without an agreement will provide the thumping headaches for the eight teams, which have a base in motor sport’s home country.
A mareridtsscenarie.
‘The mother of all messes’.
just to give examples of what Mercedes’ team chief Toto Wolff in Spain called the tortuous british way out of the european community.
– Brexit is a big concern for us. And it should be for all that work from the Uk. We are a Formula 1 team, travelling to races at least 21 times a year. We move people and parts to the car in and out of the Uk all the time – often at the last moment. Any change at the borders or in the tax will damage the Formula 1 industry in the Uk enormously, says Wolff.
– Our team is international. We are a German car maker with an F1 base in the Uk. We have 26 different nationalities employed – many of them EU citizens – and there is great uncertainty about what a ‘no deal’ Brexit would mean for, what in my opinion is a unique industry in England.
A hard Brexit will be a bet for the Mercedes – both the F1 team and the car manufacturer. Photo: Jan Sommer
– the Industry is at risk. There is a tremendous amount of talent available, and the industry has grown to be the Uk, what Silicon Valley in the UNITED states. And it is a risk, that it is not an attractive place to be. We hope that it will remain to be so.
Rival Red Bull makes a reflection on the future, but team boss Christian Horner dare not make predictions about the consequences.
– How many of you understand Brexit, he asked out in the room for his news conference.
– If there is an agreement or not, we need to relate to it. Brexit is something that needs to be taken care of. Sooner rather than later, says Horner.
– I don’t think we can answer what it gets until there is a clarification. When moving in a fog, it is difficult to make plans for the future.
Max Verstappens employer Red Bull waiting to hear what the british politicians find out. But team boss Christian Horner is hoping for a solution sooner rather than later. Photo: Jan Sommer
the Two teams stand to lukrere in a messy divorce, believes Mercedes to return.
– Ferrari in Italy, and Sauber in Switzerland will have a big advantage over any british based team, says Toto Wolff.
Haas can also lukrere on it, because the team has a different structure with bases in both the UNITED states, Italy and the united kingdom.
Why has the team chief Günther Steiner no worries.
– We keep our eyes open and see if we need to do something. But we do not spend any money on it. We are the small team. If anyone can move quickly, it is us. We just take our caravan and move to another country.
– But we do not take irrational decisions. The big teams have bigger investment there than in the us. And it is not decided what is happening. I’m waiting to respond, ” notes Günther Steiner.
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