F1: Top teams deny suggestions of a hidden agenda

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The team principals of Mercedes and Red Bull remain far apart on the question of engine rules, but they are united in rejecting suggestions that there is an agenda to drive smaller operations out of Formula 1.

Renewed talk of customer cars, as well as speculation about third car plans, has left F1's small teams fearful that there is a scheme to get rid of them. But Red Bull's Christian Horner and Mercedes' Toto Wolff are adamant that there is no desire from them to see small teams go.

"No, not at all. Certainly our position, Red Bull's position, is we want to see a full grid of two car teams," said Horner.

"We have an obligation, as do a couple of other teams, that if the numbers drop below a certain number then we will be required by the promoter to field a third car. The numbers haven't dropped significantly low enough and we haven't been requested by the promoter to run a third car However, our preference is that we have at least 10 healthy competing two-car teams."

Mercedes motorsport boss Wolff said that it was not the job of the big teams to help smaller outfits, but that he was hopeful that F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone would come up with a solution.

"I think that [commercial rights holder] CVC and Bernie are looking at the situation and are discussing what can be done to make life easier for them," he said. "On one side, my job is to look after Mercedes in Formula 1. We want the small teams to continue to compete, but we should be careful in stepping over the line and being too vocal for what is a relationship deal between the commercial rights holder and the teams.

"We can add our bit if it's necessary, for the sake and benefit of F1, but the first priority is the relationship between the commercial rights holder and the teams."