VW boss warns WRC future not guaranteed despite 2019 announcement

While the VW board has agreed to the budget required to keep the Hannover squad in the WRC for the next five years, Capito told AUTOSPORT this does not commit the firm to the series.

"The board allows us to do the WRC until 2019, but it is up to us to do it or not," he said.

"If we don't think it goes in the right direction then we don't have to be in the World Rally Championship.

"At the moment everything looks very positive in the WRC and this is why we got the approval.

"We are the only manufacturer with the agreement to stay in the championship until '19 so this should strengthen our voice in the discussions."

One of the pivotal points for any future decision is the global visibility WRC Promoter is able to generate for the sport.

Capito is backing a plan for significant changes to the final day of WRC rounds, by introducing a positional shoot-out on the final stage, which it is hoped will bolster the television offering from the championship.

Capito denied any decision on Volkswagen's long-term future in the WRC was dependent on that plan being rubberstamped by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in September.

"I wouldn't say us staying in the WRC dependent on that decision," said Capito, "we don't threaten people and we don't try to blackmail people - this is not the way we work. We would continue to work to find a solution.

"The fact is something has to be done, that's for sure. We have to work together and right now there is a big alignment that there is no better idea."