McLaren and Mercedes: A Divorce Announced!
The partnership between McLaren and Mercedes in Formula 1 is a long story. Strong ties, to the point that the German engine manufacturer acquired a 40% stake in the British team. Today, it’s official, McLaren buys back the shares held by Mercedes. Martin Whitmarsh, the head of the Woking-based team, explains the situation to us: […]
The partnership between McLaren and Mercedes in Formula 1 is a long story. Strong ties, to the point that the German engine manufacturer acquired a 40% stake in the British team.
Today, it’s official, McLaren buys back the shares held by Mercedes. Martin Whitmarsh, the head of the Woking-based team, explains the situation to us:
« I believe that now Mercedes only holds 11% of the team’s shares. This is not an important or significant figure. »
It should be noted that the other shareholders remain unchanged with: 15% for the former team boss Ron Dennis, 15% for the Saudi businessman Mansour Ojjeh, 30% for the Bahrain Mumtalakat Company.
Would this new situation suggest a separation between the two parties? On the Stuttgart side, it is stated that this would not be the end of the relationship with McLaren, but that the partnership signed until 2011 should change.
It is important to remember that since this season, Mercedes has returned to Formula 1 under its own name: Mercedes GP, by purchasing the reigning world champion team, Brawn GP.
