This is important as, looking ahead, we expect macroeconomic developments to feed through to a marked rally in the gold price and, with plenty of room for the gold:silver ratio to contract, particularly if memories of uncomfortable investor losses in silver during 2011 continue to fade, it is easy to see decent scope for sizable gains in the silver price this year.

FORBES: INTERVIEW: Thomson Reuters GFMS: Silver Could Reclaim $30/Oz In 2013

If Silver Wheaton chooses to terminate the contract with Barrick over a failure to meet its commitments, it will have a negative impact on its expected silver stream quantity by 2017.

FORBES: How Bad Will Weak Prices Ding Silver Wheaton's Earnings?

"I don't think that it is a secret anymore that nine teams have signed the contract -- and I really hope that the silver team next door (UK-based Mercedes) will sign very shortly and it will be then that we will take up our board position, " he said.

CNN: McLaren chief: F1 teams must unite