Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered his brief thoughts on Michael Carrick's tenure after he was ambushed in the paddock at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Ineos tycoon is a one-third shareholder of Mercedes through the petrochemicals company, with the constructor a lynchpin of his sporting empire.
But it was Manchester United on the mind of Sky Sports when the billionaire was tracked down live on air, and the chance of the interim manager staying on at the club on a permanent basis.
First questioned over whether Mercedes were the strongest team on the grid once again at the start of the season, on the heels of their 1-2 qualification on Saturday morning for Sunday's race, Ratcliffe demurred.
'Well, I don't know,' he said. 'All the signs are quite good.
'It's a good start, but it's a long season,' Ratcliffe added, likely referencing George Russell's claiming of the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, and his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli's second-place finish.
On the subject of how he thought Man United, and specifically Carrick, are doing, Ratcliffe said: 'He's doing an excellent job.'
But on the subject of whether he might be handed a contract long-term, Ratcliffe quickly added: '(I'm) not going there!'
'Clearly we're thinking about (Champions League qualification), but there's still seven or eight games to go, so still a while,' Ratcliffe continued.
Since the arrival of former club captain Carrick in the dugout, Man United has experienced a surge of strong form that has seen them climb up the table to firm up their position in third.
Last Wednesday, Man United suffered only their first defeat since Carrick's arrival as they were downed 2-1 by Newcastle - for which Ratcliffe was present - but spirits remain at their highest for some time following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January.
Despite Carrick's strong record since returning to Old Trafford, the former manager has been largely unwilling to enter into discussions about whether he will be offered the role permanently.
But at the end of February, he allowed himself to admit that he saw the job as 'the ultimate role'.
'I'm really enjoying it, I love what I'm doing,' he said. 'I'm fortunate.
'I feel privileged to be in the position I am, but it's not the fact that I believe I can do it and I'm here to do it.
'I said it when I came in - there's the sentimental side of that... of understanding the role and coming through the club and being here and loving the club and being a supporter and all that side of it is one thing. But, actually, I'm here to do a job now and to make a good team and be successful.
'I don't decide how long that's going to be but I love being here and while I'm here, I'll give everything I can. And I always plan for the long-term future for the benefit of the football club. That's how I believe it should be.'
Juhclmortu
0
of course we have to be emotional about the team and the manager's performance.tell us the fans how man so-called big coaches came to old Trafford and failed miserably??Everytime we loss a game it was records being broken.this team has never won at old Trafford in over 20 odd years or that team has never beaten man u before.when was the last time Man U has won five or six games on the trot or even six out of seven and so on, tell us when??
Fidcelmop
0
are your eyes blind? only 1st 3 games man u played well. crystal palace Everton Tottenham fulham we barely win it convincingly. wining convincingly by 1 goal margin is different from lucky wins see when we have no luck Newcastle beat us
exactly, legends and sporadic fans should just please keep quiet, a few month in and everyone is saying keep him, like what? doing the same shit again and expecting a different result is the sign of madness, a few of those matches the opposing team had a red card and we struggled to win.
Honabeiklr
1
are your eyes blind? only 1st 3 games man u played well. crystal palace Everton Tottenham fulham we barely win it convincingly. wining convincingly by 1 goal margin is different from lucky wins see when we have no luck Newcastle beat us
If Manchester United is having a problem, i think they should question those legend bcuz many of them speak rubbish and constitute nuisance to the development of the club. for instance, Carrick was doing a great job when he bench Benjamin sesko for 2nd half while many of them where criticizinghim that you should start sesko and starting sesko what as he brought by benching Amad who happens to be our electrified winger.
gudiest01
0
Carrick is doing well but we should be careful and stop being emotional about the parament position
you can still make your point without an insult fool
mupamsty
0
are your eyes blind? only 1st 3 games man u played well. crystal palace Everton Tottenham fulham we barely win it convincingly. wining convincingly by 1 goal margin is different from lucky wins see when we have no luck Newcastle beat us
This is football in football you win, draw & lose some games & to be a good manager isn't determined by winning all your games convincingly. So for now Carrick has done the magnificent job & he deserves to be a permanent manager no matter what & from the market there's no other manager who can come to United right now & win the games Carrick has won with those current players so if he's not given this job that'll mean we're the enemies of success
mupamsty
0
Sir Ratcliff must leave football manager at Manchester United to manage in their own way.
For what tangible reasons?
wehcklmpru
1
Carrick is doing well but we should be careful and stop being emotional about the parament position
are your eyes blind? only 1st 3 games man u played well. crystal palace Everton Tottenham fulham we barely win it convincingly. wining convincingly by 1 goal margin is different from lucky wins see when we have no luck Newcastle beat us
gudiest01
5
Carrick is doing well but we should be careful and stop being emotional about the parament position
suaaekpu
3
Sir Ratcliff must leave football manager at Manchester United to manage in their own way.
wazbinp
5
he has been aided in most of his wins
Livingstone4u
3
What does Jim know about football