Wolff: Breakaway F1 Series a "Realistic" Chance

His comments come after the sports big teams voiced their displeasure with Liberty Media's vision for the sport past the 2020 Concorde Agreement.

Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff has added fuel to the fire saying the chances of a breakaway series forming outside of Formula One are a "realistic" possibility and warned the sports owners, Liberty Media, that it "could happen".

He is not the first big name to criticse the proposed vision that Liberty Media have proposed. Head of Fiat and by extension Ferrari, Sergio Marchionne stating that the 'Prancing Horse' could even quit the sport and race elsewhere. Wolff though remains hopeful that an agreement could be reached that would satisfy all parties.

“Marchionne has a clear vision of what Formula One should represent for Ferrari, which is a purist sport that isn’t a shopping channel. I would strongly encourage all of the sport’s stakeholders not to try and provoke him.

“I agree with most of the things Sergio says because Formula One has a certain DNA and it is a sport that needs to stick to its roots. So, don’t mess with Sergio Marchionne. Formula One needs Ferrari much more than Ferrari needs Formula One.

“I will give it everything to align the vision among us by seeking consensus and accepting compromise.”

Talks of a breakaway series are not new to the world of Formula One. In 2009, the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) proposed a breakaway series after budget limits were set to be imposed by the sports governing body, the FIA. However an agreement was eventually reached and the teams and the FIA signed a new Concorde Agreement.