Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholders Threaten to Leave if Team is Punished

Union Investment, the largest private shareholder in the MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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AMG Petronas Formula 1 team, is threatening to leave the sport if the team is punished for its in-season test with Pirelli tires. The FIA International Tribunal in Paris will decide that on Thursday, June 20. 

"Mercedes-Benz must get out of F1. The company spends hundred of millions here, and it doesn't bring anyone anything," said Michael Muders, Union Investment manager.

In case you've missed it, Mercedes tested 2014-spec tires with Pirelli in the current W04 Formula 1 carMercedes-Benz W04Germany, 2013 > 20133 photos
with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton driving at Barcelona between the Spanish Grand Prix and Monaco Grand Prix. FIA rules ban in-season F1 testing outside of a young driver test or straight-line testing.

The question is how serious is Union Investment to leave Formula 1 or is this a political move to attempt to get a more lenient decision from the FIA International Tribunal. Although, even Mercedes executives do not seem entirely convinced that the money spent on Formula 1 is worth it. 

“In F1, you see pretty quickly if you succeed or not, and if the results are up to your expectations. For Mercedes those expectations must be that we are up there at every race competing for victory," said DaimlerDaimlerGermany, 1889 > present12 models
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Chairman Dieter Zetsche.

Source: Autocar