Schattling insisted that the reason for the sacking of their 50 employees – approximate number, representing the aforementioned percentage of shed jobs – is not related to the economic crisis or financial difficulties of the Brixworth based factory, but to the recent engine rules adopted by the FIA for the 2010 season, “limiting engine life and development”.
“It is an unfortunate consequence. Nonetheless, we will continue to manufacture high class engines such as those with which we are leading the championship,” confirmed Schattling for local newspaper Northampton Chronicle.
It recently surfaced that the Mercedes FO 108W, official designation for the marque's F1 engines this year, has become the most efficient power plant in the modern history of the sport, as it powered Jenson Button's BGP 001 through its last 3 race wins this season – Bahrain, Spain and Monaco.
Mercedes is currently in agreement with 3 teams for the supplying of Formula One engines: works team McLaren and independent outfits Force India and Brawn GP. According to some recent rumors in Germany, it seems the car maker is already considering fitting Brawn GP's machineries with the three-point star, in light of their out-of-this-world performances in the first 6 rounds of the 2009 season.
The Brawn drivers powered to 5 wins and 4 podiums so far, with the Brackley-based constructor holding a comfortable 43.5-point lead in the overall classification to second placed Red Bull Racing.
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