Not only were the silver arrows bested in initial pre-season testing by Ferrari but they have the spectre of a “nightmare scenario” unfolding before their very eyes in Europe.

That nightmare — one which is fast becoming a reality — as UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s government lurches from one disaster to the next, is a no-deal Brexit and what it could mean for the five F1 teams who are run out of the United Kingdom.

“Brexit is a major concern for us and should be a major concern for all of us that live in the UK and operate out of the UK,’’ Wolff said.

“We are Formula One teams that travel to races and test at least 21 times a year, we are moving in and out of the UK, our people move in and out of the UK, we are getting parts and services … and any major disruption in borders or with taxes would massively damage Formula One in the UK.

“Our team is an international team. We are a German car brand that has its Formula One operations in the United Kingdom … Formula One is very much exposed to the decisions that could be made on the political level and it is a risk for our people and a risk for the industry.

“(It’s) the mother of all messes.’’

The United Kingdom is a hub for Formula One teams, with Mercedes, Red Bull, Renault, McLaren and Williams among the operations based there.

Wolff said a no-deal Brexit would hand an advantage to Italy-based Ferrari and Alfa Romeo (Sauber) in Switzerland.

“If a no-deal Brexit would happen like having been discussed, I think we would have a major impact in terms of our operation going to the races and getting our cars developed and ready,’’ Wolff said.

“That is a nightmare scenario that I don’t want to even envisage.

“Ferrari in Italy and Sauber in Switzerland, they would have a massive advantage over every UK based team.”

Wolff has already started working on contingency plans with Mercedes to guard against the impact.

“We are looking through the various scenarios with Mercedes Benz UK. It not only impacts Formula One, but it impacts also the mother brand in terms of getting cars and parts in and out of the country,’’ Wolff said.

“We have started (to put) contingencies in place like having more stock and thinking about how we get parts and people in and out of the country, but it would be a disruption and it would cause all the UK teams a lot of headache.’’

The UK Formula 1 teams are not the only ones in the automotive who would be disadvantaged by a no-deal Brexit, with transport companies lashing the May government’s inability to come to grips with what could happen to their businesses across Europe if a deal is not struck by March 29.

Rod McKenzie, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, says truckers were told they will need Europe-issued permits to drive through EU countries if Britain leaves the bloc without a deal.

Of more than 11,000 who applied, only 984 — less than 10 per cent — have been granted the papers.

“It’s been an absolutely disastrous process for our industry, which keeps Britain supplied with, essentially, everything,” McKenzie said.

One could assume those problems might also come into play for Formula 1 teams, who may also be forced to consider their respective futures in the UK.

The UK is also facing the prospect of many large companies taking their operations elsewhere after many triggered plans to deal with a no-deal Brexit in January.
And in February the Dutch government announced that it had been speaking to more than 250 countries about taking their operations there in the case of a no-deal Brexit.