Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

2010 Formula One Thread

Lotus signed it's first driver and the rumors are saying it's Jarno Trulli. That doesn't mean they'll see the grid. All the new teams still need to deal with getting enough sponsorship money, and if Brawn is having problems with that it doesn't bode well for the newcomers.
 
Mercedes take ownership of Brawn

German car giant Mercedes has bought the Brawn Formula 1 team in a move that is likely to see Jenson Button join McLaren as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate.

Mercedes will buy a controlling interest in Brawn, believed to be 75% but is expected to continue as McLaren's engine supplier.

Brawn, who won both world titles in their debut season in 2009, will be rebranded as the Mercedes GP team.

Nico Rosberg will be their lead driver, with Nick Heidfeld his likely partner.

Neither driver has yet been confirmed, but Rosberg, who drove for Williams in 2009 is widely known throughout F1 to have already signed for Brawn.

Button, who won the drivers' title this year, has been trying to secure a pay-rise from his £3.5m salary but it seems Mercedes is not interested in keeping him on.

He and his manager Richard Goddard visited McLaren on Friday and Button is now expected to join McLaren for a salary around double what Brawn were offering.

Button's decision is understood not to be solely about money - sources say he considers McLaren might have a more competitive car than Brawn in 2010.

Mercedes Sports boss Norbert Haug said on Sunday that he was trying to secure a drive for Heidfeld, a former Mercedes protege who has driven for BMW since 2006.

"We are speaking with Nick Heidfeld as well," Haug told DPA.

"Mercedes-Benz supports the idea of signing an experienced and capable German driver. There is however no reason to finalise the driver situation too hastily."

It is believed Ross Brawn will stay on as team principal.
Click to expand...
BBC.
 
That's crazy - just saw the news myself! Good news for the sport I think since Toyota and BMW pulled out.

Apparently Mercedes will sell back their stake to McLaren over the next 2 years, but will continue to supply engines through 2015.
 
Looks like Kimi won't be driving next season! :eek:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80187

As much as I admire what Brawn GP accomplished last year I'm starting to hope they don't do well next year. It seems like this buy-out is helping drive away the talent. Granted Rubens left right after the last race, but it seems like this deal really pushed Jensen out right into the McLaren spot.
 
IMO button is making a mistake.

in other rumors, brazilian media claim raikkonen to mercedes is a done deal, even if other sources place him in a rally car for next year.


in any case, it will be an interesting year.
 
Like the rendering, even if they don't have anyone to drive:
mercedes-gp-rend630web.jpg
 
brisbaneguy29 said:
Red Bull are going to Mercedes engines next year anyway. They were dumping Renault.
Click to expand...

They wanted to go to Mercedes, but McLaren invoked their veto right and put the kebosh on it.

Too bad Renault could not wait a few weeks for Mercedes to buy Brawn, as I expect that "veto right" is no longer available to McLaren as a basic engine customer.
 
RaceTripper said:
Lotus signed it's first driver and the rumors are saying it's Jarno Trulli. That doesn't mean they'll see the grid. All the new teams still need to deal with getting enough sponsorship money, and if Brawn is having problems with that it doesn't bode well for the newcomers.
Click to expand...

latwebbmwtrullitest493_m.jpg

latwebbmwtrullitest507_m.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back