Mercedes to buy McLaren

UPDATE #2 This rumor is finally downgraded to 'false' today after two years. (GMM) Speculation that McLaren could be bought out by German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has been denied.

Dr Dieter Zetsche, who is CEO of Mercedes' parent company DaimlerChrysler, says there is 'no reason' to go down that route, even though every other works F1 team – Renault, Ferrari, Toyota, BMW-Sauber and Honda – is carmaker-owned.

Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojjeh own 60 per cent of the Woking-based squad.

But Zetsche said at Indianapolis: ''What we have with McLaren is a good and successful partnership.''

He did, though, suggest that DaimlerChrysler is not content with McLaren-Mercedes' lack of results so far in 2006.

He added: ''We do not place ultimatums but we do have to be in a position where we can win.

''F1 is crucial to the structure of our marque and, at the end of the day, to the sale of cars.''

10/17/05 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.''

10/18/04 (GMM) Gerhard Berger will run the re-branded 'Mercedes-Benz' F1 team after the Stuttgart marque buys the remainder of McLaren, according to the latest wild rumor. It was suggested last week that Mercedes' new chief, Dr. Eckhard Cordes, will initiate the full takeover of McLaren as early as January next year. The rumor continued that McLaren chairman Ron Dennis will be removed, even though he retains sixty per cent – and therefore control – of the grand prix outfit. Dr. Cordes replaced former Mercedes-Benz chief Jurgen Hubbert a few weeks ago. Mercedes denies the rumor.