McLaren-Mercedes is as strong as ever - Haug

[Wanta996Gotta]

Could the Mercedes Brawn deal not be as secure as we all thought for 2010? Could we maybe see Ferrari engines in that car next year or is Ross actually content with how things are having Mercedes "just" as a supplier. Could this also be linked to the Rosberg and Kimi situation not being resolved yet

McLaren-Mercedes is as strong as it has ever been and there are no plans to end the relationship in the near future, according to Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug.

Although there has been reports that Mercedes-Benz is considering buying a majority stake in the Brawn GP team, Haug made it clear that the German car maker is fully committed to its partnership with McLaren.

Daimler, owner of Mercedes, has a 40 per cent stake in the British squad.

Haug says he sees no reason why Mercedes would look for a way out of its partnership, as he reckons that, after turning its 2009 season around, McLaren-Mercedes is at it best.

"There is a very firm decision that we have a long-term commitment with our partner McLaren," said Haug. "Rather than going into speculation, I have to point out that this team works better together than ever before.

"The guys did a remarkable job, we were really quite lost at the beginning of the season and internally we discussed, we need to be there at the home GP at the Nurburgring. We saw what happened.

"It is not like turning a switch and we are there, there was a lot of work and I think what was remarkable for McLaren and the chassis guys, a completely new style was adapted.

"This team was about testing, learning, evaluating, and you saw that when the truck comes to the races and brings the parts on Friday morning and you check and double check and make back-to-back tests there was a lot of work in the garage.

"The way these guys learned to anticipate what will happen, what will be the next tenth of a second and so on, I think this five/six months period was probably the best learning history in the history of McLaren, in the history of our team definitely, and it shows this team is stronger than ever.

"If you compare it to half a year ago, and you do an overlay of all team's performance, then we scored more points in the last seven races. We also lost some, like Monza and Nurburgring. This is a real important statement, this team is probably better than ever."

He added: "I think the relationship inside the team, inside the working, people here at the race track, is absolutely great and fantastic. We have had lots of difficulties, Australia and Malaysia, but coming out of that, and being there at the end of the season is just fantastic. This will continue.

"To discuss other issues and other options that are in the background that are internally discussed is not the right thing to do. No decisions are taken, the only decision that is taken is that we are firm here, partners, and our connected for a long period of time."

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh agreed that the working relationship between the two companies was in a great state.

"The only thing I would add is Daimler is a 40 percent shareholder, a very important shareholder and they have been a fantastic partner for 15 years and we are going to be together for a long time to come," Whitmarsh said.

McLaren finished in third position in this year's standings after winning two races, having endured a dismal start to the season.

Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Tuesday 3rd November 11:03

[deadslow]

James Allen reckons:

"Ron Dennis is here in the paddock for the first time since the start of the year. He is raising money for his road car project and working with his partners Mansour Ojjeh and Mumtakalat to buy out Mercedes’ shares in the team. But finding a price is difficult. And the galling thing for McLaren is that once they pay the money to Mercedes it will then go straight to Brawn to but the controlling interest and make them an even more formidable competitor."

So I doubt MacMerc will last much longer.

[Get Karter]

Norbert should have a better insight than James Allen.

But is he fibbing?

I doubt it. I like Norbert.

[llewop]

deadslow said:

James Allen reckons:

"Ron Dennis is here in the paddock for the first time since the start of the year. He is raising money for his road car project and working with his partners Mansour Ojjeh and Mumtakalat to buy out Mercedes’ shares in the team. But finding a price is difficult. And the galling thing for McLaren is that once they pay the money to Mercedes it will then go straight to Brawn to but the controlling interest and make them an even more formidable competitor."

So I doubt MacMerc will last much longer.

your faith in the wise words of The Cock is remarkable!

[Wanta996Gotta]

Get Karter said:

Norbert should have a better insight than James Allen.

But is he fibbing?

I doubt it. I like Norbert.

I agree, I would take Haugs word of James Allens and we have saw with Ferrari,Mclaren and Toyota this year that throwing Money at it does not always make you a formidable force.

[deadslow]

llewop said:

your faith in the wise words of The Cock is remarkable!

Not really. He writes one of the best F1 blogs and is usually measured and reliable.

Haug, on the other hand, can't really say anything else, can he?

Time will tell, but with Rd wishing to create the 'British Ferarri' and Merc's sudden interest in Brawn, I think a parting of the ways is on the cards.

[Project 644]

So the engine that is in the back of the new McLaren road car, I believe it is made by "McLaren" themselves.

Is McLaren's long term plan to produce their own engine for F1?

[spend]

Is it actually Mercedes that is buying a stake in Brawn anyway? I thought it was one of the UAE shareholders of Mercedes.

[10 Pence Short]

Project 644 said:

So the engine that is in the back of the new McLaren road car, I believe it is made by "McLaren" themselves.

Is McLaren's long term plan to produce their own engine for F1?

Mercedes F1 engine unit was orignally Ilmor, anyway. In the event of a split I doubt there'd be much difficulty in de-merging them from MB and badging them whatever you wanted.

[fivesixseven8]

deadslow said:

llewop said:

your faith in the wise words of The Cock is remarkable!

Not really. He writes one of the best F1 blogs and is usually measured and reliable.

Haug, on the other hand, can't really say anything else, can he?

Time will tell, but with Rd wishing to create the 'British Ferarri' and Merc's sudden interest in Brawn, I think a parting of the ways is on the cards.

My money goes on them parting ways a year early, so at the end of the 2010 season.

I'd also be more inclined to agree with James Allens comment as Norbet is never going to admit things are a little rocky.

[flemke]

10 Pence Short said:

Project 644 said:

So the engine that is in the back of the new McLaren road car, I believe it is made by "McLaren" themselves.

Is McLaren's long term plan to produce their own engine for F1?

Mercedes F1 engine unit was orignally Ilmor, anyway. In the event of a split I doubt there'd be much difficulty in de-merging them from MB and badging them whatever you wanted.

No way would Merc sell the engine unit. It's the thing that gives them legitimacy in F1. Without it, Merc/Brawn would have to run someone else's engine, which would kind of defeat the purpose!

[10 Pence Short]

flemke said:

10 Pence Short said:

Project 644 said:

So the engine that is in the back of the new McLaren road car, I believe it is made by "McLaren" themselves.

Is McLaren's long term plan to produce their own engine for F1?

Mercedes F1 engine unit was orignally Ilmor, anyway. In the event of a split I doubt there'd be much difficulty in de-merging them from MB and badging them whatever you wanted.

No way would Merc sell the engine unit. It's the thing that gives them legitimacy in F1. Without it, Merc/Brawn would have to run someone else's engine, which would kind of defeat the purpose!

I must admit, I forgot all about the Brawn deal whilst I typed out that reply. Take away Mercedes involvement with F1 and it makes sense...

Either way, were McLaren to build their 'own' engine, I would expect an awful lot of technology and personnel to have eminated from what was once Ilmor...

[spend]

I think folks who seriously think Ilmor could divorce from Mercedes are living in dark ages. The modern electronic drawing/design office and CAD/CAM facilities etc. shared between Ilmor & Stuttgart are just as important as having a wind tunnel.. I don't believe the engines are quite as frozen as you would think

[hairyben]

deadslow said:

llewop said:

your faith in the wise words of The Cock is remarkable!

Not really. He writes one of the best F1 blogs and is usually measured and reliable.

Haug, on the other hand, can't really say anything else, can he?

Time will tell, but with Rd wishing to create the 'British Ferarri' and Merc's sudden interest in Brawn, I think a parting of the ways is on the cards.

Ron may want to create all-mclaren mclaren (so rumour has it) but he's not going to go out of his way to buy out mercedes, they have the best lump in F1 and an in-house engine will be fraught with difficulties not to mention rule issues with the engine freeze. He might be ambitious but he's not stupid, he'll sit pretty and if merc want a divorce it'll have to be on macca terms, ie merc take a big hit for their handsome investment.

[Redlake27]

I read that McLaren had explored buying BMW's F1 engine facility for rebranding

[xspencex]

This whole thing makes sense. . .Ron only wants to buy out Mercedes in order to regain corporate control of the Mclaren team, that's not to say they won't run Merc engines as a customer. . .in fact Mclaren may continue as a Mercedes customer for a few years yet hence Haug's response and if Ron has his way and buys back control, Mercedes will not have any say at the team anymore.

Was there rumor about Mclaren purchsing BMW's F1 engine design and manufacture centre?

[flemke]

xspencex said:

This whole thing makes sense. . .Ron only wants to buy out Mercedes in order to regain corporate control of the Mclaren team, that's not to say they won't run Merc engines as a customer. . .in fact Mclaren may continue as a Mercedes customer for a few years yet hence Haug's response and if Ron has his way and buys back control, Mercedes will not have any say at the team anymore.

Was there rumor about Mclaren purchsing BMW's F1 engine design and manufacture centre?

Ron and his partners already have effective control. That's why Merc is on the back foot.

[dpbird90]

It's fair to say McLaren have the right know how and the hardware to produce their own engine to at least match the Mercedes one. But still, the best thing I think they could do is either take over the old BMW engine plant (if they do split from Mercedes that'll ps off Stuttgart even more), or, even better but very unlikely, convince Honda to return solely as an engine supplier, who would get input from McLaren, and then, just maybe, it'll be like the old days. Maybe even go for the old red/white McLarens, but thats probably going a little too far.

[deadslow]

dpbird90 said:

It's fair to say McLaren have the right know how and the hardware to produce their own engine to at least match the Mercedes one.

Genuinely doubt that.

dpbird90 said:

But still, the best thing I think they could do ..... or, even better but very unlikely, convince Honda to return solely as an engine supplier, who would get input from McLaren, and then, just maybe, it'll be like the old days. Maybe even go for the old red/white McLarens, but thats probably going a little too far.

Only a guess, but I bet that would be very popular at Brawn - Macca with the Honda power, and them with the class leading Merc.

[Derek Smith]

There are suggestions that the engine regulations will favour newcomers rather than the established teams. The performance of the Cosworth will be interesting. If it is given the benefit of being modified then it will, one assumes, have an advantage over the Merc in time.

If McLaren feel that they are no longer number 1 in Merc's eyes then they might well decide to look elsewhere.

Further, I would suggest that if Cossie do come up with the goods then there is nothing to stop McLaren doing so as well. RD has shown himself to be adventuresome in the past. He's always seemed ready for a challenge. Whilst there are many barriers to him pushing his team that way, I don't think it is as far fetched as you might think.

I personally think it would be a disaster. McLaren build excellent chassis and run a superb team. Building the engine as well . . . well no, I don't thing so. It's a bit like BMW in reverse. They were doing well with Williams - second and third in the WCC I seem to remember - so they dumped them and bought out Sauber. And then became a laughing stock. Do what you do well.