Toto Wolff: 'Ferrari's quit threat is serious'

Toto Wolff has warned the FIA and Liberty Media not to take Ferrari's Formula 1 quit threat lightly.

As negotiations over a new commercial deal and regulations beyond 2020 loom, many long-serving F1 figures have heard Ferrari's quit threats before.

However, Mercedes boss Wolff says that it is different this time.

Wolff is quoted by formel1.de as saying: "[Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne] has clear ideas about what Formula 1 must look like to be a platform for Ferrari.

"If he sees no advantage for the brand, he will turn off the light, quite simply and without remorse.

"Do not mess with Marchionne. Formula 1 needs Ferrari more than the other way around."

The 2018 world championship begins on Sunday with the Australian Grand Prix.