Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug has claimed that his company's interest in forging stronger relations with world champion Brawn GP should not have any affect on its long-standing partnership with McLaren.
Mercedes stepped in to provide engines for the Brawn effort at the last minute, following the team's winter resurrection from the ashes of Honda, and was rewarded with eight race wins and both world titles. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels for the first few races and consolidated after that, with the Briton claiming the drivers' crown and his team-mate third overall.
The success, and speculation about Brawn's financial situation, led to suggestions that Mercedes would seek to increase its investment - with the rumour mill the claiming that the German giant would look to back out of its deal with McLaren, despite holding a 40 per cent stake in the Woking operation. The ménage a trois is also thought to have scuppered Red Bull Racing's chances of running Mercedes engines in 2010, with McLaren apparently vetoing the move. Force India, which enjoyed something of a break-out season in 2009, also runs the German powerplants.
According to Reuters, senior Mercedes-Benz officials were at last weekend's inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to talk to both Brawn and McLaren, but Haug insisted that there was no desire to seek a divorce from the latter, despite rumours that McLaren might be looking to develop its own BMW-based engines as an alternative, becoming an entirely in-house F1 manufacturer.
"There is a very firm decision that we have a long-term commitment to our partner McLaren," Haug maintained, "Rather than going into speculation, I have to point out that this team works better together than ever before. To discuss other issues and other options that probably are in the background and that are internally discussed is just not the right thing to do.
"The only decision that is taken is that we are firm, here, partners and are connected for a long period of time."
Comment 1 - 14 of 14
Rick A (post 14)
Ok. I agree with you that if Vettel is given the best car, he'd probably win the driver's championship.
But many other drivers (too many to mention) could do the same (the last example being Button).
It does not necessarily prove that the driver with the best car is absolutely the best driver.
Have a nice day.
Comparing the Torro Rosso to the McLaren is not even realistic! I suppose a Mondeo is comparable to a Rolls-Royce then! But they do have an engine and four wheels, so they must be equal! The Torro was only good due to Vettel driving it at 125%, which was not done this season, hence the lack of results. I will concede that Hamilton would most likely out score Sutil or Fischi. My original point is that the Merc is the best power plant and if Red Bull had the engine, Vettel would probably win the majority of the races. The Renault is simply unreliable.
According to Rick "Hamilton is great because he has only been with one team and never been down the grid because of it" (cf. post 9).
Dear Rick, maybe you didn't watch F1 races in 2009? McLaren cars were constantly at the end of the grid during the first races, and just began to recover from their lack of performances after Silverstone's GP.
Give credits to Hamilton. What he achieves this year is at least (it's better to say even best) than what Vettel did last year with his Toro Rosso, which was a good car, don't forget it. So he didn't need to drive a Force India car to prove his skills (even there, I think he'd probably do better than Fisico or Sutil).
Very few people will agree with you that Vettel is absolutely the best driver on the grid. But many will acknowledge that he's one of the best.
Just take it like that.
Woof Woof. Rick just look at the stats then come back and say who is the best. Woof Woof
National pride has blinded you poor Brits, the truth is often difficult to handle. Right now you are all stage 1 in your recovery process, denial. Once you have passed that stage you need to complete anger, bargaining, guilt and acceptance, then you will see that I only spoke the truth! Put Hamilton in the Force India and he will produce the same as Sutil, next to nil! Button was lucky and will NEVER win another championship and possibly race. Vettel is simply the best, and you will all come to see it as fact once they have a reliable engine package at Red Bull!
Gary I do like a good threesome, mother and daughter act is my absolute fave though!
Two sisters is good but two good friends is just as good too.
I blame it all on the French, Renault should drop out! I find it funny that the factory team never had an engine failure all year but Red Bull had several, odd don't you think! You can continue to believe in your fantasy, but the facts are clear that the Red Bull has the premier chassis and once paired with a top power plant they will be unstoppable! F1 is 85% car and 15% driver, and Vettel is the only driver since Schumi to take a sub-level car to the top of the podium. It speaks for itself! You really cannot say that Hamilton is great because he has only been with one team and never been down the grid because of it. Button on the other hand, has done nothing to elevate any of his teams. In fact had the rules not been so unclear at the beginning of this season Button would of done nothing again! The FIA gave Brawn a three race gift and sent the rest of the teams scrambling over the diffuser issue. Take off your union jack glasses, take a good hard look and you too will see the obvious!
Rick A -- Vettel cannot finish enough races in the points to win the championship (at least this year). Mad skills?
.
To finish first, first you have to finish.
.
:)
Vettel will eventually be in a Merc, even if it is the same motor but re-badged as a Maybach. Brawn and McLaren are both terrified that Red Bull might get a real engine and then drive off, leaving them in the dust! Button and Hamilton would have zero chance to compete without an engine advantage! Vettel has mad skills, and they simply do not measure up!
As was saying not such a problem with the big 2 as the other 3.Hon.bm,and toy ,who are now history.
Ferrari and McLaren/Merc are F1 know how.
Yeah right Haug, their has be a rift for over twelve months now, Daimler-Haug-McLaren, after the Liegate Gate affair Daimler wanted Mercedes Benz to cut ties with McLaren, if Mercedes Benz has so much confidence in McLaren, why is Mercedes Benz so interested in buying a larger stake in Brawn. Next year the Brawn Mercedes Benz will be painted metalic silver, metalic red, and black, with the three pointed star more visible. McLaren doesn't own Mercedes Benz, Daimler does..............................
The French phrase ménage (household), à (of), trois (three) literally translates as "household of three." Simply put, a ménage à trois is a romantic relationship in which three people live together and have sexual relations.
Of late, the term is also used to describe any sex act involving three people, otherwise known as a threesome.
Its to early for this kind of banter another good year for Brawn next year and then you'll see some movement .The only thing merc have to worry about is the more success for R B the more exspensive he becomes . don't you just hate those french sayings 'menage a trois 'what does this mean? mustard on a trout ??
I bet McLaren and Brawn will be merged at some point it is the only way Mercedes can keep F1 ace Ross Brawn onside :-)
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