I wonder if Merc would sell its shares in Mclaren and start backing Brawn GP fully. I really can't imagine if Mclaren gets thrown out of this year's championship. IMO, they're looking at a 2 race ban.
Not a chance in hell. There's no way MB is going to trade a known quantity (McLaren) for an utterly unknown one (Brawn GP). And there's no way McLaren are going to get thrown out for lying to stewards this years versus their major F-up in 2007. If MB was going to drop McLaren, it would have been then, and certainly not now. The only way MB will leave F1 if market forces require them to do so or if the FIA (Mosley) goes on a psychotic witch hunt.
But wasn't the Mercedes leak actually that "we do not know if we are staying in F1 past 2010"...not whether they were going to switch teams. The question comes down to whether Mercedes gets enough PR from F1 in return from their investment - a hard case to make in this world economy. This McL liegate (and inability to run up front) probably is not lost upon certain members of the board that want to save the F1 money. AND, - it likely will not translate to making a major move toward Brawn, as you say. More likely a strategic withdrawal until times get better.
I dunno. The times are hard now, but I'm pretty sure Merc will be friggin pissed off if Mac gets hits by race bans again.
If Bernie continues to float his proposal for a spec motor (whatever that might be) I would see no reason for Merc, BMW, Toyota, or Ferrari to stay around...at a time when LMS, at least in Europe, is looking ever so more attractive as a technology platform.
Aren't McLaren under some sort of probation time after the spy gate? I think they will get maybe a two race ban or similar.
