Mercedes willing to supply three customer teams

Norbert Haug, the motorsport boss of Mercedes-Benz, confirmed at the Nürburgring that his company is planning to supply three customer teams in Formula One next year. This news fuels speculations that Red Bull Racing will make the switch from Renault to Mercedes in 2010.

Haug said: "It is not finally decided. The World Motor Sport Council agreed to change that the limit is not two in the future, but four. We can get some refinancing from supplying three other teams, and this is the plan. So we are in negotiations. We could have three customer teams."

Asked if Haug could confirm that the new team his company would supply is Red Bull, the German said: "I cannot mention any team names, but the positive thing is that we get quite a few requests actually and hopefully it is justified. F1 in this respect is also a fashion, and our engine is seen to be a strong one, maybe the best one."