Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said that Mercedes "would like to go head-to-head in F1 with Germany's other two premium carmaker brands." Zetsche said, "We share -- and I'm talking about the premium business -- about 80 percent of the world market share with Audi and BMW. Of course we greatly admire Red Bull and Ferrari and the other teams, nevertheless other manufacturer teams would be very much welcomed by us" (MOTORSPORT, 12/1). ... F1 "created a new working group" headed by Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams. The report said that "the first proposals will be discussed at the next meeting of the Strategy Group" (GRAND PRIX, 12/1). ... Refusing to talk about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's role in his company India Cements, Board of Control for Cricket in India President-in-exile N. Srinivasan "made it clear that the Indian captain would not be asked to resign despite questions about conflict of interest being raised against him." Srinivasan, who is also the Int'l Cricket Council chairman, declined comments on the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, "which is being heard in the Supreme Court." Srinivasan: "The matter is in the court. I cannot speak on this" (PTI, 12/1).
