McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed that the Woking-based outfit's engine-supplier Mercedes-Benz is keen to take over control of the team completely.
There have been suggestions for years that the Stuttgart manufacturer – which joined forces with McLaren back in 1995, since when the combo have claimed 55 grand prix victories, three world championship crowns and a staggering 1,226 points together – is eager to increase its share from the current 40 per cent that it holds.
Mercedes is the only car maker on the current
F1 grid that does not own its team outright – in contrast to rivals
BMW,
Renault,
Toyota,
Honda and
Ferrari.
“It's an interesting issue,” Whitmarsh affirmed, speaking to the
International Herald Tribune newspaper, “and a dilemma that faces the shareholders of this business, and to some extent the management.
“I would be deeply disturbed, though, if Mercedes had no real interest in acquiring us. I think it's a tangible demonstration of their commitment to this.
“They have a lot of investments already sunk in their
Formula 1 endeavours, and the fact that they would like to acquire control is a healthy ambition.”
On the eve of Mercedes' home grand prix at Hockenheim this weekend, however, the company's motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug sought to temper the speculation somewhat – pointing out that the situation is perhaps not quite as clear-cut as it may at first appear.
“The question is how successful you are,” the German stressed. “It's not a question of what percentage you own. It's a question of how many points you have on your account at the end of the year – and so far we have more points for less money, for a car manufacturer.”
