Another piece in the 2014 V8 Supercars drivers’ puzzle is officially in place after Mercedes young gun Tim Slade was confirmed as veteran Russell Ingall’s replacement at Holden.

But frustrated Ford driver Will Davison’s future remains up in the air as he prepares to butt heads with team boss Tim Edwards ahead of the round that may make or break his 2013 title tilt – next month’s Bathurst 1000.

Days after announcing he would leave his Mercedes team just as they had shown encouraging signs at last weekend’s Sandown 500, Slade was officially unveiled by Holden’s Supercheap Auto Racing team as Ingall’s 2014 replacement.

“To be able to join a team as successful as (Holden’s) Walkinshaw Racing and reunite with Supercheap Auto was the perfect scenario for me when I was considering the next step in my career,” said Slade who raced under the Supercheap Auto brand in 2009.

The announcement’s timing could not have been more bittersweet for the three-car Mercedes team who had notched their best round to date last weekend.

Slade impressed at early practice before teammate Lee Holdsworth combined with Craig Baird to secure a gutsy fourth place in the Sandown 500.

Holdsworth admitted he was going to jump ship from Mercedes well before Slade after a frustrating build-up to his Sandown 500 breakthrough.

“There was a point where I went to him (Erebus CEO Ryan Maddison) and said `mate we have to do something here and if we can’t do anything then you are going to have to let me go’,” Holdsworth told v8supercars.com.au.

“Fortunately it didn’t come to that. It’s all coming good at the right time.”

Meanwhile, Davison remains unsigned for 2014 despite being Ford’s leading title threat trailing V8 Supercars leader, Holden’s Jamie Whincup, by just 97 points ahead of the legendary Bathurst 1000 in October.

Davison’s talks hinge on his current outfit Ford Performance Racing remaining a factory-backed team.

But immediate talks will no doubt relate to team orders ahead of the Mount Panorama classic.

Davison was unhappy after what he believed was a pre-race agreement to give precedence to the team’s leading car in the Sandown 500 was not enforced.

Davison’s car dropped to 22nd in the enduro after being held up by Ford teammate Mark Winterbottom’s vehicle and being forced to pit behind him.

They fought back to finish third.

“I was disappointed with the way things went pear-shaped so early – you have to try and stick to an agreement I suppose,” Davison said.

But Edwards said he was unaware of such a team rule.

“I am disappointed to hear about all these comments because I wasn’t aware of them – I will sort out Will when I next see him.”