Mercedes could supply four F1 teams with engines

By Alan Baldwin

NUERBURGRING, Germany (Reuters) - Mercedes are hoping to supply a fourth Formula One team with engines next year in addition to McLaren, Brawn GP and Force India.

Motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug told reporters at the German Grand Prix the company planned to increase its client base.

However, he would not confirm that race winners Red Bull, whose design chief Adrian Newey was previously technical director at McLaren, were considering switching to them from Renault.

"We can get some refinancing from supplying three other teams (as well as McLaren) and this is the current plan so we are in negotiations.

"We could have three customer teams, that's the plan."

Under current rules, engine providers are allowed to supply two teams but the governing body's world motor sport council recently agreed to change that to four -- the manufacturer's own team plus three customers.

EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT

McLaren are 40 percent owned by Mercedes and have a long-standing exclusive agreement with the German carmaker that means the British-based team have to agree to any additional customer deals.

They and Mercedes agreed a five-year deal with Force India at the end of 2008 before Mercedes were given a special dispensation to supply Brawn this year and keep that team in the sport after Honda pulled out.

Haug said last month he hoped Mercedes would continue with Brawn for several more years.

"I cannot mention any team names," said the German when asked about Red Bull, who have won two races this year to championship-leading Brawn's six.

"But the positive thing is that we get quite a few requests actually... our engine is seen to be a strong one, probably the best one."

Three new teams are due to join the 10 existing teams in Formula One next season, assuming there is no breakaway series, and all have signed deals with independent Cosworth.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)