The Volkswagen group, perhaps with the Porsche or Audi brands, has flagged entering the sport in 2013 along with a radical new engine formula.

But the German marque has made it abundantly clear that it needs the FIA to impose the so-called 'world engine' concept; a basic engine formula that can be applied across various premier motor sport categories.

SID news agency quotes Mercedes chief Norbert Haug as saying: "In the formula one meetings that I have attended, the 'world engine' was never a topic."

In fact, he indicated that reports suggesting F1's existing engine makers - concerned about the cost of implementing revolutionary rules changes - are pushing to retain some semblance of "stability" beyond 2012, are true.