Ferrari/Haas F1 tie-up within the rules, says Mercedes' Toto Wolff

The FIA stewards at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closed a number of loopholes in the regulations after Mercedes sought clarity on what it saw as ambiguous areas relating to listed parts and aerodynamic testing restrictions.

Haas will be entering F1 next year on the back of a technical partnership with Ferrari, which is supplying numerous parts, and made available its windtunnel for use.

Asked whether Ferrari had perhaps gone beyond the rules in its dealings with Haas, Wolff said: "I don't think Ferrari operated outside the regulations.

"Ferrari and Haas interpreted the rules in the right way.

"But this wasn't about us seeking clarification of the past, we just wanted to be rock solid for the future.

"With the way we did it, it was about us mainly, but also so everybody has transparent information."

Wolff, in particular, has no concerns about a possible advantage gained as he said: "This is a sport about gaining an advantage.

"So if they gained an advantage by interpreting the rules like they did, then 'chapeau', they deserve that."

Wolff stressed Mercedes' motivation was working out how it could work with its own customer teams - Williams, Force India and Manor for 2016 - in future.

"There's so much talk about Ferrari and Haas and what it means and what did we seek," he said.

"I want to again re-emphasise that we had asked the FIA for clarification of what we could do in the future.

"We were looking at partnerships with some of the teams, which are our engine customers, in order to optimise on the aero development.

"We weren't quite sure of the rules and regulations because they were a bit vague, ambiguous in certain areas.

"That's why we asked for guidance so every team could have, in a transparent, open communication, guidance from the FIA.

"I am confident with the outcome because it gives us clarity, and that was the main purpose of the exercise."