Brawn confirm Mercedes takeover - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Brawn confirm Mercedes takeover

Mercedes-Benz will head up their own Formula One team next season after taking a 75.1% share in Brawn GP, the British-based constructors have confirmed.

Mercedes engines powered Brawn's Jenson Button to the world championship in the recently-completed season and the team also claimed the constructors' championship, while Lewis Hamilton, Button's predecessor as world champion, was also sitting behind a Mercedes engine in his McLaren.

Ross Brawn will remain as team principal. The team will become known as Mercedes Grand Prix, with Brawn in control, while Mercedes-Benz Motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug will work with the F1 team and the engine team of Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines.

As part of the deal, Mercedes' parent company Daimler AG relinquished their 40% stake in McLaren, but will remain their engine suppliers for the next six seasons.

A statement released on Brawn GP's website, www.brawngp.com, read: "Mercedes-Benz will enter the Formula One World Championship with its own team, beginning with the 2010 season, and Daimler AG and McLaren Group will change their form of cooperation with effect as of 13 November 2009. This was announced by Daimler AG on Monday.

"Daimler AG together with Aabar Investments PJSC will take over 75.1% of the Brawn GP team, with Daimler taking 45.1% and Aabar 30%. The rest of the 24.9% will remain with the current stakeholders."

The move could have ramifications for the out of contract Button, with Mercedes believed to favour an all-German partnership of Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld.

Such a move could see Button link up with Hamilton at McLaren and the 29-year-old from Frome, Somerset was believed to have toured McLaren's Woking factory last week.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking