Mercedes-Benz set to become a shareholder in Brawn GP F1 team

[CNR]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mot...P-F1-team.html

Mercedes-Benz is set to enlarge its footprint in Formula One by becoming a shareholder in Jenson Button's Brawn GP team, The Daily Telegraph understands.

Q: will we seen a new Brawn sports car

Mercedes to continue its relationship with McLaren – although they will no longer produce road cars together

[Giuseppe F1]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78399

Mercedes set to buy into Brawn GP
By Jonathan Noble
Monday, September 7th 2009, 08:03 GMT

Jenson Button, Brawn, Hungarian GPBrawn GP's Formula 1 future is poised for a major boost, with Mercedes-Benz close to a deal to take equity in the team.

With the world championship leaders already having secured sponsorship funding for the next few years, as revealed by AUTOSPORT last month, the team's outlook now looks even better following discussions with the German car manufacturer.

Reports first emerged about the plans this morning in The Daily Telegraph, and sources have confirmed to AUTOSPORT that talks are at an advanced stage for the car company to take a shareholding in the team.

It comes on the back of Mercedes-Benz's increased profile as a customer engine supplier over the past season - with the team set to provide power-units to McLaren, Force India, Brawn and, perhaps, Red Bull Racing in 2010.

The move is not, however, an attempt by Mercedes-Benz to move away from its long-standing commitment to partner McLaren - and it is instead believed to be part of the car manufacturer's attempt to increase its presence in F1.

A McLaren spokesman told AUTOSPORT that the team had no qualms about Mercedes-Benz's plans for expanding its involvement with its rivals in the sport.

"Mercedes-Benz's engine supply contract with McLaren is a very long-standing one - it's in its 15th consecutive year, in fact - and it will continue to run for many years to come," said the spokesman.

"However, we're supportive of our partner's plans regarding engine supply of other teams in Formula 1, and we were delighted earlier this year that a Mercedes-Benz engine supply deal was able to be done with Brawn, thereby saving that team from likely extinction.

"Force India, too, has blossomed as a result of its engine supply/engineering consultancy collaboration with Mercedes-Benz and McLaren - as Giancarlo Fisichella's impressive second place in the recent Belgian Grand Prix showed all too clearly.

"Both McLaren and Mercedes-Benz remain extremely satisfied with our Formula 1 collaboration, which has netted two drivers' world championships and one constructors' world championship as well as dozens of grand prix victories.

"As ever, we'll be aiming to add to that win tally together at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix - although we never under-estimate our opposition and the competition will undoubtedly be tough."

Mercedes-Benz itself denied that the plan was for a full-blown buyout of Brawn, but did not rule out an equity-type deal.

"It's our policy not to comment on rumours and we want to point out that we have longstanding contracts with McLaren," a spokesperson for the company told The Daily Telegraph.

Mercedes-Benz is poised to confirm its engine plans for 2010 at the Italian Grand Prix, although there is fresh uncertainty now surrounding whether or not Red Bull Racing will make the switch from Renault to Mercedes-Benz.

Although the deal had appeared to be all but done in recent weeks, sources suggest that the contract has not yet been signed - and it is not impossible that the team could actually stick with its current partner for another year.

Williams is looking at changing its engine supply deal for next year, having asked Toyota to be released from its contract, and had been expected to switch to Renault. However, there remains a chance the Grove-based outfit could be in the running for a Mercedes-Benz deal if Red Bull Racing opts not to take it.

[ioan]

Interesting move.
There were rumors about this and now it is official. I wonder what triggered this move though.

[I am evil Homer]

Perhaps they want to partner as their F1 strategy and RBR said "no, engine only" so they strengthened the relationship with Brawn instead. In turn RBR, if they get a Merc power plant will be given an inferior version

[Saint Devote]

Mercedes-Benz as a technology partner - exellent for Brawn GP. Equity partner for MB? Brilliant!

What company would not want to secure under contract the services of the best race strategist and one of the best general minds in motor racing?

This is about Ross Brawn - nothing else.

Although..... the MB team have also noticed that Jenson, given the tools, is a winning driver. What chance, especially if he wins the world drivers title in the next few weeks, he is one day driving for the great Woking team? I would say high indeed.

An aside here - it seems that if Red Bull decide to stay with Renault then Williams is in line for the Mercedes Benz.

I hope that Red Bull remain with Renault because partnering with Williams would be even stronger for the auto manufacturer than with FI.

Maybe, Rosberg would be part of a deal and with Hulkenberg, Mercedes will have a direct line to two German drivers, one of them the best up and coming driver around and soon to be GP2 champion in his first year.

[SGWilko]

An aside here - it seems that if Red Bull decide to stay with Renault then Williams is in line for the Mercedes Benz.

I hope that Red Bull remain with Renault because partnering with Williams would be even stronger for the auto manufacturer than with FI.

Maybe, Rosberg would be part of a deal and with Hulkenberg, Mercedes will have a direct line to two German drivers, one of them the best up and coming driver around and soon to be GP2 champion in his first year.

What I find has the most mileage in a Williams tie-up, is the benefits of learning about the alternative KERS system.

What say a road car that makes use of both an electronic and mechanical energy storage system?

Plus, they get Nico Rosberg driving a Mercedes powered car....

[ioan]

I hope that Red Bull remain with Renault because partnering with Williams would be even stronger for the auto manufacturer than with FI.

Mercedes has teh right to supply 3 teams + McLaren, so no need for RedBull to stay with Renault.

[Saint Devote]

Mercedes has teh right to supply 3 teams + McLaren, so no need for RedBull to stay with Renault.

But if they supply Mclaren, Force India and Brawn then they have to choose between Red Bull and Williams or rather Red Bull has to decide.

That is why I would like Williams to be the 3rd team.

[DexDexter]

Latest reports claim that Mercedes will buy 75% of Brawn. Is it really wise for Brawn to sell the majority? We remember what Honda did. Boards can decide to leave F1 with a very short notice.

[SGWilko]

Latest reports claim that Mercedes will buy 75% of Brawn. Is it really wise for Brawn to sell the majority? We remember what Honda did. Boards can decide to leave F1 with a very short notice.

At the moment I think Mercedes are getting very good ROI from F1. They are staunch supporters of FOTA, have helped two teams on the brink, have been the first manufacturer to win with KERS (a big kick in the teeth for rivals BMW).

They are the good guys of F1.