F1 champions Mercedes boss fears impact of Brexit 'messes'

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Brexit is a major concern for Formula One world champions Mercedes who fear the "mother of all messes" could cause massive damage to Britain's motorsport industry while also helping rivals Ferrari, team boss Toto Wolff said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters on the first day of pre-season testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, the Austrian suggested a chaotic British departure from the European Union was the nightmare scenario for his team.

"There is uncertainty at the moment whether the industry is going to be impacted by a no-deal Brexit, or a Brexit that is damaging to what for me is one of the outstanding industries in the UK.”

According to the Motorsport Industry Association, Britain's "Motorsport Valley" has an annual turnover of some 9 billion pounds (about 11.63 billion U.S. dollars) with British motorsport employing at least 41,000 people.

Anti-Brexit demonstrators wave EU flags out Westminster as MPs debate and vote on amendments to the withdrawal agreement plans in London, February 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Mercedes, champions for the past five seasons, have their Formula One factory and high performance engine operations based at Brackley and Brixworth near the British Grand Prix circuit Silverstone.

Seven of the 10 teams, including former champions Williams, Renault, Red Bull and McLaren also have factories in Britain with only Ferrari, Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso and Alfa Romeo based elsewhere in Europe.

"Ferrari in Italy, Sauber (Alfa Romeo) in Switzerland, they would have a massive advantage over every UK-based team," Wolff added.

Formula One has 21 races this season, starting in Australia in March, with one in Britain and eight more in continental Europe including Monaco.

With less than 40 days left to Brexit, the ratification of the EU-UK divorce agreement has stalled in the British parliament, raising the risk that Britain could leave without an agreement in place to cushion economic disruption.

Source(s): Reuters