Yes. Supplied by Mercedes.

Video Norbert Haug on the deal:
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/videos/norbert-h...grand-prix_236/

At the end he says that this about the driver negotiations/appointments: "We will do a very good job in that respect, I can promise you. Maybe we can create some surprises...."

I wrote it another thread too, but again: I think this take-over was especially the reason Brawn was dragging its feet with resigning Button. Brawn knew Mercedes wanted a say in the drivers-line up. So why tie your hands with paying an amount you don't want to spend?

Having two WDC on two teams are great assets for Merc. So I assume Brawn to retain Button for 2010.

How about 3 WDC between factory and McLaren for the Mercedes super team?

Just wondering. Do you really think someone didn't understand that???

Liveries always just depend on Sponsors really. You get the exceptions, Ferrari red or.. Force India, India flag. I don't think the Silver McLaren had anything to do with Mercedes as they were with Merc for awhile but didn't go silver until relatively recently (2007 I think)

Mercedes livery will probably also be fairly dominated by some form of Sponsor. Although Grey will most likely be the base colour. If there's one thing you can guarantee is that they probably won't have much or any red on that car, they'll want to not look like a McLaren and Vice Versa.

Perhaps the McLaren will have just that bit less grey and more red next season. Who knows, Liveries are one of those things that you don't really find out until some time after.

When does the Vodaphone sponsorship expire?

Kimi you mean? Less likely, as Nick looks like getting one silver arrow on his neck.

I've been following BAR Honda since there inception and several name changes. Now they have gone from Honda to Brawn to Mercedes Grand Prix in the course of a year.

I look forward to cheering on Mercedes Grand Prix. Now we just need some drivers.

First cant we give this thread a shorter name like Mercedes Gp or something.
Well im really looking forward to seeing real silver arrows again. I hope they can fight with ferrari and Mclaren although i have my doubts. But i sure hope.

Haug said it himself 'surprises' regarding their driver line up. I can easily imagine Vettels contract now being bought out and Jenson sent with his number 1 to Red Bull. Just to give Vettel a chance at youngest ever driver champion. Negotiation with Vettels 'manager' should be pretty easy right. 'wink'

I am not so concerned about my teams looks, I´m moore concerned about there performance.

I'm just upset that McLaren have lost the "Silver Arrows" tag, there was always something sexy when that was linked to the McLaren cars

+1

Mercedes-Benz W 2010 (Merged) would do it.

Didn't read all the posts yet, but has nobody as yet suggested Michael Schumacher

Hahaha. Didn't think about that one.

Button to Red Bull, Vettel to Mercedes and Kimi to McLaren?

My only concern is that Kimi may be left out in the cold, albeit with a nice paycheck from Ferrari to cushion the rejection.

yes it was suggested in another thread....

I also think bringing in Schumi to partner Rosberg for one final Hurrar...would really appeal to Michael. It also reunites him with Brawn and its clear Alonso is no fan of him staying in any role at Ferrari...

However.... Haug himself stated that he did not want to see an "all German team" and calls it an "International" team....

so....I am going to throw a real wild stone in the pond here as Rosbergs teamate.........

Kamui Kobayashi

You heard it here first!

Will it be make or break time for Rosberg, he is leading the WCC team and must make an impression?

Many think the Williams was a better car then it showed in the drivers hands, next year might show if Rosberg can rise to the occasion or if he does fall short of greatness.

Rosberg is an unkown, he has quite a few 4th and 5ths this year, but he bottled it his only chance of a victory this year. Was the Williams capable of podiums? We will never know.

Also Alexander Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima were very weak team-mates, Alex was past his prime in 1999 and Nakajima went downhill ever since his debut.

Yup Nico can crack under pressure perhaps, and we do not have any guarantee that Mercedes GP will be equipped with big budget developments.

Alan Henry now says 'Jenson Button agrees to join McLaren on three-year, £6m-a-year deal'.

I still dont undestand Ross's position or thinking?

As F1 World Champions, sponsorship is NOT an issue... So having built something with your name on it and done it so well.... why not try to build the next "Name brand" legacy in F1 like Williams. He was his own boss this year and he seemed to run the team absolutely superbly.... why the become the employee again of someone else.

Yes I know money plays a part, but Ross does not strike me as a man governed by money, He is definitely NOT a Bernie. He is obviously a genuinely nice fella that is very good at his chosen career.

I personally think its a real shame they decided to sell the majority stake.

Also.... what is interesting now is the whole "Virgin" situation. I suspect that Richard Branson threw his brand on the table, expecting Brawn to lap it up, with whatever deal Branson proposed...when in fact Brawn may have already had a better offer from Mercedes... hence why they suddenly walked awayit seems to go back Manor GP...

Interesting how the wheels turn.....

maybe he's not a williams type either?
he's just ross

That he is.... I was superbly impressed with how during every interview in Brazil and Abu Dhabi that he made a key point in thanking all the team members, especially the guys at the factory and those they had to let go...

THAT right there is a lesson to all company CEO's and Leader's of how to gain respect and dedication from employee's, by simply recognising the employee's efforts, when the opportunity presents itself.

WORLDCLASS!

why is he telling us that Daimler only bought 45%?
why would you believe him, If he cant even get that right?

am I missing something?

1997 was the first year of the silver mercedes/west livery. The silver 100% came from mercedes.

This is all most interesting.. next year is going to be a shakeup.

yes you are....that is exactly what Daimler bought, their partner "Aabar" has the remaining 30%.

Is he that shep?

Well, Mr.Bishop, since you joined the team as spin doctor it went all downhill in terms of public image...

With the likelyhood of Button not staying, I hope Kubica becomes available. Although I'm not yet convinced he's a top line driver, I see no better alternative at the moment.

One of the voices in my head tells me that J.A.L. Button is staying at Mercedes née Brawn, and that McLaren will opt for A. Sutil alongside L.C. Hamilton.

Does it sound suspiciously like Ross Brawn by any chance?

No, not really. But maybe Ross hears the same voices...

I think he meant the metallic chrome tint on the cars that began in 2006...


Anyway: looking forward to the 2010 Mercedes challenger. I was of the opinion that Brawn GP would falter next year until I read of Ross Brawn's mega gamble-I actually think they could be fighting at the very top,with McLaren,Ferrari,and maybe Red Bull as well.

RealBrawnGP who afaik do have some insider contact with Brawn/Mercedes have tweeted:

Our sources are *still* saying Button will be at Brawn in 2010, despite Alan Henry's piece yesterday, and Kimi's exit. Tense. #F1

It should be. otherwise the machines are not running well at the stable.


...


Merc move by Brawn is logical because you must have great engine to win races, but selling as much as 75% was surprise. They could have opted by 49% with lesse money keeping autonomy, make more effort in attracting sponsors, work hard on the financial aspects. I do think that IF Brawn HAD a great marketing head they COULD have had the Sponsor rolling on to their door already this year, I mean why not?


Brawn team has unwise commercial head.

Which would make it no different from the McLaren deal -- Mercedes has a 40% share and no voice in the team's management -- and thus would make no sense to Daimler's board.

I don't think Ross ever intended to stay independent, he's said so in fact. And Mercedes definitely would never have bought 49%, control and the Mercedes GP name is the whole point for them.

Sponsors didn't want to commit to a team when the future of the sport was in serious danger.

The world's economic situation is the same for every other team. Still Williams, Mclaren, Ferrari.



Canon backed them up at Singapore.





I have not read that. Could you tell me when he said it?






40% and 49% is a huge difference in terms of influencing the team direction, isn't it If your arguments are true there is no difference in 30% or 49% share holding neither. THe rest of 51% consists of individuals in the case of Brawn, in such case if Ross turn his back to other and so on. The situation do make the team a bit unstable but if the non Merc guys stick together then the vote is done. Politics. with 40% or 30% this can be hardly achievable.


...

You state that like fact, you have a sorce to back up that statement?

I read it in anaricle that was posted on Autosport back around the time of the European Grand Prix. I don't have a link because I don't have a subscription; anything older than a month is pushed back to subscription access only.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77990 (Subscribers only I think)

To quote part of the article:

Thanks, Psymon. That's the very article I was thinking of.

So, Kimi to Merc?

No, Kimi to the nearest bar to drown his sorrows, followed shortly by retirement.

No probs

Ok yes that article but that hardly is the reason why there were no sponsors this year, which is what One was talking about. As I understood it, Honda would finance the team this year to a value less what sponsorship they got, so with finance for 2009 secured they didn't really have to hunt for sponsors immediately. So signing a big sponsor this year wouldn't have brought them more money as Honda would just have decreased their portion proportionately.

Thanx Gilles, The point.


Fry talked about, at least as far as it has been reported, that he tried to lure sponsors for 0 euro this year in order to attain further commitment for coming years. Nothing happened, now we can say this was not an appealing idea.

Instead of opting for 75 % the team could have opted to go for other strategy to keep on racing. Selling the 75% share to Mercedes the team achieve financial stability for the coming future and bring short time money to the share holders, but we are looking at the consequence of the driver who committed for the most of his potential years.


The team is facing to go on racing with no race winners on two cars next year(s) Isn"t it against the idea of going to racing?