Formula One MB to buy the remaining sixty per cent of McLaren team

[MoSs]

German carmaker Mercedes could be set to buy the remaining sixty per cent of the McLaren team. The marque, whose collaboration with the Ron Dennis-led grand prix outfit finished second to Renault in the 2005 championships, is the only carmaker left in pitlane without total ownership of its formula one squad.

With Honda's recent 100 per cent buyout of BAR, Ferrari, Renault, BMW (Sauber) and Toyota are also carmaker-owned. Mercedes' parent company, Daimler-Chrysler, bought 30 per cent of McLaren from Mansour Ojjeh in 1999, and ten per cent from boss Dennis.

Mercedes' Norbert Haug played down the buyout-suggestion in the Shanghai paddock: ''We own forty per cent of the McLaren group,'' he told the 'Premiere' network, ''which is a clear commitment to the sport.''

i think its very good news , so they can start the production cars

 

[Star&Car]

If so,it should be a big deal cos this buy will cost MB a lot for the McLaren Technology Center. I'll be very pleased with a team called Mercedes-Benz F1 Team,however,I doubt it will happen before 2008.

 

[Carbon]

I don't believe this is going to happen. And they make no mention of Williams I suppose because they are a 100% private team now. I guess McLaren is the last team with a works engine deal that isn't completely owned by the manufacturer providing that engine. Minardi (Squadra Toro Rosso), Jordan (Midland), Williams, and Red Bull Racing are the only ones that will pay for their engines in 2006 (assuming McLaren gets the Mercedes-Benz engines for free as Williams did from BMW).