Another McLaren backer re-pledges team support

(GMM) Another significant McLaren backer has pledged its continued support to the embattled formula one team.

Following the Woking based outfit's exclusion from the 2007 constructors' championship and $100m fine for espionage, Mercedes-Benz and sponsor Santander said they would continue to support McLaren.

It is now reported by the Spanish news agency EFE that Spanish insurance company Mutua Madrilena, with an estimated $8m per year deal, had similarly re-pledged its support to McLaren in the wake of the FIA sanction.

EFE also cited sources close to Johnnie Walker parent Diageo as explaining that the spy case had not changed its attitude to McLaren, even if the alcoholic drinks company takes the issue "very seriously".

Mercedes' Norbert Haug told the German broadcaster Premiere on Friday: "We are convinced that our partner (McLaren) did nothing wrong."