[onlyfun_biziness]

I'm pretty sure Mercedes will want two German drivers. Such as Rosberg and Heidfeld. There's not a change Koveleinen is staying at Mclaren either, so there's a drive there for Button.

Oh yeah, Button, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Kovalainen are the only ones without contract for next season [rolleyes]

Mercedes also owns 40% of McLaren but there hasn't been a single german driver during Mercedes-era (yes, 40% gives your words on who to hire some weight )

[Alex]

Oh yeah, Button, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Kovalainen are the only ones without contract for next season [rolleyes]

Mercedes also owns 40% of McLaren but there hasn't been a single german driver during Mercedes-era (yes, 40% gives your words on who to hire some weight )

Mercedes are buying a 75% stake in Brawn; I'd say with that amount they'd have a good say about who drives for them.

[onlyfun_biziness]

Mercedes are buying a 75% stake in Brawn; I'd say with that amount they'd have a good say about who drives for them.

Yes, but they had some say on McLaren aswell, but there hasn't been a single german driver there, yet alone 2

[sbrscnds]

Yes, but they had some say on McLaren aswell, but there hasn't been a single german driver there, yet alone 2

Clearly Mercs 40% didn't give them as much say so as you suggest. It's been no secret anyway that Merc wanted a German driver in a McLaren but for one reason or another it's just not happened.

Of course owning their own team they can sign German drivers till they are coming out of their ears.

[onlyfun_biziness]

Clearly Mercs 40% didn't give them as much say so as you suggest. It's been no secret anyway that Merc wanted a German driver in a McLaren but for one reason or another it's just not happened.

Of course owning their own team they can sign German drivers till they are coming out of their ears.

German driver and german drivers are 2 different things, 1 is great for marketing, 2 ain't worse but it's not that much better (imo). I'm sure Mercedes will want someone better than Heidfeld in the other car, and even Button would fit that role

[sbrscnds]

German driver and german drivers are 2 different things, 1 is great for marketing, 2 ain't worse but it's not that much better (imo). I'm sure Mercedes will want someone better than Heidfeld in the other car, and even Button would fit that role

Oh I agree, the man sticking point seems to be Jensons pay demands, now it seems the offer Brawn have made him he isn't entirely happy with, and Nick Fry has already stated that this deal with Mercedes isn't going to change that offer.

So either Jense decides to accept their deal or he jumps ship of his own accord, McLaren being the obvious destination.

[Vomephems]

Oh yeah, Button, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Kovalainen are the only ones without contract for next season [rolleyes]

Mercedes also owns 40% of McLaren but there hasn't been a single german driver during Mercedes-era (yes, 40% gives your words on who to hire some weight )

What? I didn't say they were the only drivers out of contract did I? What's more, that doesn't matter anyway. A driver can still be kicked out regardless of contract (ie Raikkonen).

Mclaren is a British team, Mercedes is team Germany. That's why.

[onlyfun_biziness]

What? I didn't say they were the only drivers out of contract did I? What's more, that doesn't matter anyway. A driver can still be kicked out regardless of contract (ie Raikkonen).

Mclaren is a British team, Mercedes is team Germany. That's why.

Brawn has base in GB, is owned 30/70 GB/GER
McLaren has base in GB, is owned 30/30/40 GB/SA/GER

[sbrscnds]

McLaren are buying back the 40% share owned by Mercedes, regardless it's very much a British team, based in Britain with the majority of staff being.... you guessed it! Brits.

Even the Merc F1 engines are built in England.

[Vomephems]

Brawn has base in GB, is owned 30/70 GB/GER
McLaren has base in GB, is owned 30/30/40 GB/SA/GER

Yeah but nobody in the world know's anything about who owns the team. It's about the image of the team. Mclaren are a British team, like TVR are a British sports car company.

[onlyfun_biziness]

McLaren are buying back the 40% share owned by Mercedes, regardless it's very much a British team, based in Britain with the majority of staff being.... you guessed it! Brits.

Even the Merc F1 engines are built in England.

Yes, I know all that, was talking about current situation on ownerships.
Only thing really making Brawn "less british" is that the major owner is now Mercedes, all the other "british things" apply to Brawn just as well as McLaren atm

[sbrscnds]

Yes, I know all that, was talking about current situation on ownerships.
Only thing really making Brawn "less british" is that the major owner is now Mercedes, all the other "british things" apply to Brawn just as well as McLaren atm

And that's fine, but as we all know it has no bearing whatsoever on driver lineups.

[Vomephems]

Yes, I know all that, was talking about current situation on ownerships.
Only thing really making Brawn "less british" is that the major owner is now Mercedes, all the other "british things" apply to Brawn just as well as McLaren atm

Mercedes will want Brawn as German as possible though. No doubt they're still based in England, and i'm sure they'll keep ross b and nick f on too. It's hard to think of them (Brawn) as a British team any more, and officially i don't know what they'll be.

[sbrscnds]

Apparently Button has agreed terms with McLaren and the contract could be signed within days.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AG1AD20091117

[Tam04xa]

Brawn didn't do too badly this year with the engines they had and they weren't Mercedes' main team.

So did Red Bull - and you know who built their engines? Hint - starts with "M" [thumbup]

[sbrscnds]

So did Red Bull - and you know who built their engines? Hint - starts with "M" [thumbup]

They used Renault engines.

[N9u9ie4p]

So did Red Bull - and you know who built their engines? Hint - starts with "M" [thumbup]

Ehhh.... no. RBR uses Renault engines, and STR uses Ferrari's.

http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/teams/

[Tam04xa]

Damn, should be asleep in bed - not at the keyboard - it was Force India that was the third Mercedes powered team
I must have been thinking of the times Mercedes congratulated the them for doing so well with their engines and was thinking RB - I knew it wasn't STR - as they had such a good record.
Come to think on it, RBR did have a problem with their engine supplier and I wonder if Renaults' dismal results using the same engine as RBR and the embarrassment it may have caused them, was a factor in their pulling out?

[Alex]

Read it and weep, CB!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/8363892.stm

BBC Sport understands McLaren is the favoured option for Button, the reigning world champion, but that he has not yet agreed terms on a contract. Likewise, Button has moved to the top of McLaren's wish list of drivers.
As Button's McLaren contract is not a done deal, it is not absolutely certain that he will join the team for 2010, but it is the most likely scenario.

[onlyfun_biziness]

Hmmmmmm, british company believing british driver is on top of british teams list, oh dear, it has to be 100% correct.
On other news, some still suggest that McLaren is only using Button as a way to get Kimi's salary demands lower (auto und sport magazine, don't have link) and some that Kimi has already forgotten all about F1 and is moving to Citröen in rally with never-before-seen salary of around 12 million euros (never before seen in rally, that is, sebastien loeb, reigning champion and has won iirc several championships before is said to make around 5-6 million euros)

We'll see which media is right or wrong soon enough