Brawn GP to Mercedes GP

[Jonbummer]

Confirming rumours that had been in the air for several weeks, Mercedes announced today that it will be taking over a 75.1% stake in this year's championship-winning team, Brawn GP.

 

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche and Mercedes Motorsport chief Norbert Haug also confirmed that starting next season, the team will be renamed Mercedes GP.

 

Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, along with other partners, will detain the remaining 24.9% in Mercedes GP. Brawn will continue as Team Principal, but no drivers have been confirmed.

 

Mercedes currently holds a 40% participation in the McLaren team; that portion will be bought back by McLaren over a period reaching until 2011, at which point the team will become independent.

 

However Mercedes will continue supplying engines to McLaren until 2015 and the cars will retain their silver livery.

 

http://en.f1-live.com

[Friendstar]

yes! Mercedes!

[Jonbummer]

more on it...

 

Confirming rumours that had been in the air for several weeks, Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler AG announced on Monday that together with Aabar Investments, it will be taking over a 75.1% joint stake in this year's championship-winning team, Brawn GP. The transaction is pending the approval of the relevant European authorities.

 

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche and Mercedes-Benz Motorsport boss Norbert Haug also confirmed that starting next season, the team will be renamed Mercedes Grand Prix.

 

The "new terms and conditions for Formula 1," motivated the German carmaker's decision to invest in and run its own team.

 

"The 'Resource Restrictions' set by FOTA [Formula One Teams Association] and FIA effectively limit expenditure for the design, construction and running of the racing cars," read a Mercedes-Benz Motorsport statement. "In addition there will be a significantly higher income available for a Formula 1 team generated by the commercial rights of the racing series following the signing of the new Concorde Agreement."

 

Mercedes currently holds a 40% participation in the McLaren team; that portion will be bought back by McLaren over a period reaching until 2011, at which point the team will become independent. However Mercedes will continue supplying engines to McLaren until 2015 and the cars will retain their silver and red livery until then.

 

"The partnership between McLaren Mercedes has been in place since 1995 and ended its 15th joint Formula 1 season in 2009. The change to the form of cooperation is taking place by mutual agreement. Mercedes-Benz and McLaren will continue to cooperate with each other," the Mercedes statement explained.

 

Mercedes will now work on restructuring its F1 programme and look at additional ways to improve the cost reduction plans already in place.

 

"Due to the new Formula 1 environment, we will face the competition in the future on the most important motor sports stage with our own Silver Arrows works team," said Daimler CEO and Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche.

 

"Our new Silver Arrow Formula 1 team is a great sporting and technical challenge and we will tackle this with sporting spirit and full of enthusiasm."

 

"It is our target to develop a model for our Formula 1 activities which will initially be run with significantly reduced budgets by Mercedes-Benz and which, in the foreseeable future, will be self-financing," indicated Mercedes-Benz Motorsport chief Norbert Haug.

 

Daimler AG and its partner Aabar Investments PJSC will control the team (45.1% and 30% respectively), while Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, along with other partners, will hold the remaining 24.9% in Mercedes GP; Brawn will continue as Team Principal and the current management group will remain in place.

 

However no drivers have yet been confirmed for the 2010 season - Rubens Barrichello has left the team and World Champion Jenson Button is still in talks regarding a contract renewal, with Mercedes GP or McLaren as options.

 

"Brawn GP has been through an incredible journey over the last 12 months," said Ross Brawn. "From fighting for our survival to forging a strong relationship with Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines, winning both the constructors' and drivers' World Championships, and now accepting Daimler's and Aabar's offer to buy our team, which will secure its future.

 

"Both I and my fellow directors at Brawn GP are incredibly proud of our staff, drivers and everyone associated with our team and thank them for their commitment, outstanding teamwork and their focus on achieving results in sometimes difficult circumstances," Brawn continued.

 

"We are honoured to be representing such a prestigious brand as Mercedes-Benz in Formula One next year and we will be working together to do our best to reward their faith in our team."

 

[Redplanet]

Thanks for the info.

 

Next year no more F1 on starsports.....how? how?

[King]

beri smart move...

Plus if add two ang mo driver...

everything all uk

[Ichibawa]

No news on who will be taking over Toyota's.

[Miles]

Thanks for the info.

 

Next year no more F1 on starsports.....how? how?

 

Err.... the fact is, next year no more ESPN + Starsports in Starhub SCV.

 

To get Starsports/ESPN ... have to subscribe to Meow TV.

 

All sports fans (not only football, but NBA basketball, Grand Slam Tennis, F1, World Cup ... dare not imagine, etc....) will have to meow .....

Starhub will have a big big hole to fill..... i for one will cancel my Starhub sports subscription next year. To meow or not to meow..... let's see.

 

 

By the way, report just came in, McLaren have signed Jenson Button for 3 years at

[Jonbummer]

related news:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2009/11/what_mercedes_buyout_of_brawn.html

 

 

but it does seems like Button is unhappy to see his 'sacrifice' rewarded accordingly...

 

 

Jenson Button appears poised to leave Brawn, which has been bought and renamed by Mercedes, and join McLaren for the 2010 season.

 

The Guardian newspaper reports that a three-year,

[Redplanet]

Yes you are right.....can cancel the sports group liao.

 

Btw, if kimi really can't get a deal.... i reckon he's probably got enough $ to last one or two years in limbo.......

[Redplanet]

Thanks for the updates!

[Nicholasl]

Alonso & Massa.

 

Who will be ferrari's lead driver?

 

I thnk would be Alonso and Massa be 2nd..

 

I dun think Kimi is lousier than Massa in anyway.. I guess if Ferrari wanted someone to go in order to get someone better than both of them, its best to let go kimi as Massa would not mind being no.2... Lesser wages too.

[inlinesix]

Alonso & Massa.

 

Who will be ferrari's lead driver?

 

I thnk would be Alonso and Massa be 2nd..

 

I dun think Kimi is lousier than Massa in anyway.. I guess if Ferrari wanted someone to go in order to get someone better than both of them, its best to let go kimi as Massa would not mind being no.2... Lesser wages too.

Other than MS, Massa mind being No.2 driver of Kimi or Alonso. What Kimi lacking is input for car development. That is something Alonso good at.

[Jonbummer]

with Button now confirmed at McLaren, it left to be seen who will

take up the seats at the 'new' Merc GP

 

Rosberg is very much likely one of the drivers involved in the team

 

will it have 2 German drivers like McLaren having 2 British drivers?

 

[Viceroymenthol]

with Button now confirmed at McLaren, it left to be seen who will

take up the seats at the 'new' Merc GP

 

Rosberg is very much likely one of the drivers involved in the team

 

will it have 2 German drivers like McLaren having 2 British drivers?

 

 

having 2 germans makes sense...

 

heidfeld is speculative frontrunner for the second driver of merc gp

Edited November 19, 2009 by Viceroymenthol

[Blueray]

Mercedes in talks to lure Michael Schumacher into sensational Formula One comeback

 

By Jonathan McEvoy

Motor Racing Correspondent

Last updated at 11:31 PM on 20th November 2009

 

Mercedes are in secret talks with Michael Schumacher in an attempt to lure him into an astonishing Formula One comeback.

 

It has emerged that Schumacher was sounded out by team principal Ross Brawn in Abu Dhabi three weeks ago