Panto Season starts early!

[Alibaba99]

Red Bull own 50% of Toro Rosso

Merc does not own any of McLaren any more. They sold their shares back to the McLaren Group when they bought Brawn.

But the FIAs idea around getting car makers back in wasn't as team owners anyway, it was as engine manufactures.

VW, Renault, Toyota, and a few others all pricked their ears up when the I4 formula was announced, only to then turn their backs again when it was dropped in favour of the V6.

Ferrari will never quit F1 though. It is so much a part of their whole company ethos that leaving F1 would be suicide for them. Which makes all the threats even more hollow.

The I4 idea was mainly driven by Audi who stipulated that this would be a requirement if they joined F1. When they decided not to enter this was dropped in favour of the V6s.

It used to be Gerhard Burger who owned the other half of Toro Rosso, but I know he had that up for sale. Don't know if it was sold.

Merc aren't 'tied' to McLaren. McLaren just pay them for their engines under and agreement that they will for the next few years.

Ferrari needs F1 more than F1 needs Ferrari.

McLaren don't pay for their engines at the moment, IIRC they still receive a nominal fee from Mercedes. However, from 2013 they will have to pay if they wish to stay Merc powered.