Mercedes' parent company, Daimler, has denied it is planning to quit Formula One after a speculative report in Germany claimed a plan had been hatched to sell the team to Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll next year.
The report in Auto Bild and on F1insider.com claimed Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff would stand down from his operational role this year, but retain his 30 percent stake in the team as Stroll takes over Daimler's shares. It went on to cite Aston Martin's recent appointment of ex-AMG boss, Tobias Moers, as a crucial link signaling Daimler's intent to trade the Mercedes F1 team for an increased share in Aston Martin, of which it already owns five percent.