FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[darwin dali]

F1live:
Only by a narrow margin was Mercedes-Benz's continued presence in Formula One approved by the marque's parent board, a report on Sunday claimed.

The German news magazine Focus said Dieter Zetsche, Daimler AG Chief Executive, recently asked the management board to vote on whether Mercedes should prolong its 13-year collaboration with 2008 drivers' world champions McLaren.

Mercedes-Benz is currently McLaren's largest shareholder, and has supplied works engines to the Woking-based team since 1995.

Amid the global financial crisis, speculation continues that other carmakers will follow Honda in withdrawing from the expensive sport.

Focus claims that the management board's vote tallied three votes to two, meaning that for now Daimler AG remains committed to Formula One.

The same magazine, however, said BMW might rethink its BMW Sauber-branded F1 programme upon completion of the quest to win the title, theoretically at the end of this year.

F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone recently said he is pressing for the manufacturers to commit contractually to the sport long-term.



That would have been a bomb if it had gone the other way, ain't that the truth?

Maybe that explains McLaren's new 'friendship' with Ferrari - you never know when you need a friend who can sell you some decent engines. A McLaren-Ferrari, now THAT would be a shocker!

[Gaz]

perhaps this is why AKR has been so calm about Mclaren then.

Scuderia Ferrari Mclaren

[McLaren Fan]

perhaps this is why AKR has been so calm about Mclaren then.

Scuderia Ferrari Mclaren

Wash your mouth out, fellow McLarenite!

[Gaz]

perhaps this is why AKR has been so calm about Mclaren then.

Scuderia Ferrari Mclaren

Wash your mouth out, fellow McLarenite!

no no, its a scary though that.

never happen tho, Mclaren could continue without mercades they'd as long as they had say a season to get a new engine supplier.

[McLaren Fan]

I think McLaren would survive alright, but I would fear another few years in the wilderness as in the 1990s, which would be a real shame, for McLaren and Mercedes both have got their house in order in the last couple of seasons.

[Jabberwocky]

with the standard engine coming in, I am sure that Merc dropping out would only of been a short term problem

[cap-dude]

What about Force India! Geez, this season would've been a mess if Mercedes pulled out.
I'm sure McLaren would rather go with Toyota engines though, rather than Ferrari

But I'm sure it was a pretty close shave. With Honda not looking so hopefull right now, Super Aguri well and gone, we can't really afford to lose another team. I'd rather not see this season cut down to 16 cars.

[Jabberwocky]

Would McLaren been able to of bought out Mercs engine team?

[nudge1964]

the story is a little vauge to really read much into it. Maybe something was voted on, but i would find it hard to believe that they voted on whether to pull out of the 09 season.
i suspect Ron has quite a water tight agreement with mercedes as to how they can withdraw from the partnership should they wish to do so at any time in the future

[EwanM]

If Mercedes left Mclaren and the standard engine plans were going to happen, there would be a big drop in form.
People forget too, its not just Mclaren that rely on Mercedes. Now so does Force India and possibly whoever buys Honda.

[bud]

Though its a non surprising vote given the current climate i feel by the time of the next vote it could be all 5 for continuing. You cant judge the future economy But if they were to pull out their performance engine department would be up for sale and theres no reason McLaren couldnt take over the old ilmor factory as Mercedes would probably put it up for sale at a bargain price for their old partners.I guess McLaren would have to fast track their road car development and have a mould similar to Ferrari's where the road car sale profits go to funding the F1 team.
Though with the engine freeze development costs would be down and they could continue the current statas quo of the team.

[McLaren Fan]

I guess McLaren would have to fast track their road car development and have a mould similar to Ferrari's where the road car sale profits go to funding the F1 team.

I wouldn't be completely against that. I really hope McLaren's road-car programme takes off. I see it as fulfilling the ambitions of Bruce McLaren.

[nudge1964]

id say mclarens road car project is every bit as dependent on mercedes as F1, probably more so

[Gert]

Merc's financial exposure in F1 is limited to it's ahre of McLaren & given the interest in the Middle East in buying into F1 right now that wouldn't be hard to sell on - it would hinge though on whether the new majority shareholders would be happy to let Ron continue & as I suspect he can veto anybody that doesn't want him it might take a little longer to find the right people

They also own the ex-Illmor engine facilty, which, given that it has currently 2 customers for it's products & possibly a 3rd it shouldn't be hard to find a buyer for. Perhaps even Ron would take it off their hands, just to be sure he'd got control over the engines his F1 cars need.

[Gaz]

I guess McLaren would have to fast track their road car development and have a mould similar to Ferrari's where the road car sale profits go to funding the F1 team.

I wouldn't be completely against that. I really hope McLaren's road-car programme takes off. I see it as fulfilling the ambitions of Bruce McLaren.

Mclaren are not quiet Ferrari when it comes to road cars but i'm glad there alot better than Williams who have never considered a road car.

Ron has said he is leaving leading the race team to deal with the road car side of things, and as a result of that i expect it should be pretty good.