F1 teams jostle over new Concorde Agreement

Depending on who you ask in the pitlane will determine what view you take in terms of the current negotiations regarding a new Concorde Agreement.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is keen to see the negotiations wrapped up sooner rather than later, hoping to avoid the issue 'dragging on'.

If you talk to Ferrari or Red Bull you would be given the impression that talks are going well and almost at a stage to begin dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

'I think that what I can say is that we are in discussions, and the discussions are going on in the right way. But there is no more than that at the moment.' Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said to Autosport Magazine.

While Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: 'We are in discussion about a future Concorde Agreement. We want to have a Concorde Agreement that reaches into the future and we are in discussion with FOM at the moment.

'Talks have been progressing reasonably well, so we will see.'

However if you speak to McLaren or Lotus, your view might change considerably.

There have been rumours and mumblings that both Ferrari and Red Bull might be set to agree verge 'favourable financial terms' with Bernie Ecclestone and even see Ferrari obtain shares in Formula One with seat on the F1 board for both Red Bull and Ferrari.

Recent rumours suggesting F1's owners CVC were contemplating floating shares in Formula One on the stock exchange have undoubtedly had an influence on the suggestions that Ferrari could become a part-owner of F1, but Horner added that there was no influence on CVC's decision from the teams.

'IPO [initial public offering] is really down to the current shareholders, It is not really the team's business. It is down to the current shareholders, so that is more of a question for Bernie and CVC.' he said.

Understandably, the position of McLaren and Lotus could change dramatically if their are any substance to the rumours, because the other teams will begin to question if they are still competing on the same terms as their rivals, who hold a higher position of power than themselves.

'On paper you always want more money and it is a tricky decision about what to do. I don't want to talk about it.' Lotus team principal Eric Boullier bluntly said when asked about the situation.

A team spokesperson for McLaren also refused to comment adding: 'McLaren and indeed others are in useful dialogue with the Commercial Rights Holder, and do not want to jeopardise those discussions by further comment.'