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Mercedes open to Force India collaboration

10:46, 27 Aug 2018

byBobby Vincent

Mercedes consider a closer collaboration with Force India, now the team are under new ownership, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Ferrari have definitely benefitted in recent years and Wolff believes it could be down to their close relationships they have formed with Sauber and Haas.

Force India look like the team that would partner up with the Constructors' Championship leaders.

Lawrence Stroll (Lance's father) has recently took over Force India following the team slumping into administration.

"Obviously a few years ago when Ferrari spotted the potential in collaborating closely with another team, it triggered a thought process with everybody else," Wolff explained to Motorsport.com.

"And only Ferrari will know how much benefit they have generated, but there is benefit in such a cooperation if it structured well.

"No team wants to be a B-team, no team wants to be a junior team. Everybody wants their own success, and this is something you need to honour and respect in Formula One.

"I think if you can meet on eye level, a collaboration makes sense. But making it happen is not trivial. All of us are structured, all of us have processes that make sense, and evaluating potential opportunities is something which we will clearly do."