Despite the global financial crisis and Max Mosley's warnings about the viability of formula one, Norbert Haug says Mercedes-Benz's motor racing programme is secure.

"The financial crisis is certainly not helping," the German marque's motor sport president told Auto Motor und Sport, "but motor racing is still highly profitable."

Haug insists that the Stuttgart based manufacturer, in collaboration with the British championship contenders McLaren, has always had its F1 budgets under control.

"In the last ten years," he explained, "we have never exceeded our budget. On the contrary; we have sometimes spent much less."

Source: GMM