Mercedes to take over McLaren?

Old news. Ron will sell when DC pays SILLY money!

-Peter

 

What "success" has BMW Sauber had so far? As far as I can tell, McMerc has more points. I believe Ron owns 40% of McLaren and I don't think he'll sell anytime soon. I hope he doesn't. If Mercedes wants a team, they should start their own and leave McLaren.

 

Yeph, what grid is missing is another Super Aguri.
I think Ron will be thinking about retirement at some point - and selling the team to MB is logical.

 

You think if MB left, McLaren would go to the back of the grid??? They already are with those damn MB engines! lol!!!

 

No, i think - new startup team is a joke. May be Mercedes can do better than Honda, but still - even McLaren's technology center is something that is worth buying the team for

 

I wasn't suggesting it for the best interest of Mercedes, which it would be. I was saying that because I don't want to see McLaren be no more and another buy-out. They have too much history imo for them just to sell themselves. Sauber and BAR did nothing specatular so I couldn't care less what happened to them. McLaren is in a different league.

Edit: To even boggle my mind more, why is Mercedes whining about the lack of championships? If we all remember correctly, wasn't Kimi screwed last year from a WDC because of the MERCEDES engines??? They should look inside their own company for problems and stop trying to blame everyone else. Last year McLaren gave them a good driver and good chassis, but Mercedes dropped the ball.

 

I think privater teams have only "also run" future in F1.

 

i doubt ron will ever sell. he may be thinking of retirement, yes, but with a total new driver line-up and with the signing of FA, he might stick around a couple more years to see what happens. who knows, FA might just gel with the car immediately, remember, he's one person whom takes care of the car while still pushing it!

 

For the most part, I don't like manufacturers in racing series. It makes it less competitive (i.e. Audi at LeMans). I also don't like that some of them have motives other than winning, such as press and getting their sales up. Crap like that. One reason I like Williams a lot is because Frank is just a diehard racing enthusiast. Does anyone seriously believe he's all about profiting and brand awareness?

 

I agree, it nice to see privater teams doing it just for the fun of it. But, F1 is way pass the fun stage - it's industry with huge money involved. It's expensive to field a competitive F1 team and no matter what Bernie thinks - it's manufacturers sport. I not saying the Frank doesn't belong in F1, but he will be much better with deep pocket manufacturer supporting his team.

 

Yeah, but at some point your best years' are behind you, Ron has been in it a long time, personally I'd take my 'retirement' and move on, and not become a Colin Chapman or Ken Tyrrell too soon.

 

Uh, what would you call Ferrari ?

I totally agree with you about Frank Williams, 'HE' may not be about profiting and brand awareness, but he has hired people around him that are paid to do that for him.

 

Ron Dennis and Mansoor Ojjeh combined own the other 60% of McLaren. It is likely that both do want to sell out, for the right price, especially now the McLaren Technology Centre has been completed.
I see it happening over the next few years.

 

Excuse me but in most of the cases where Mclaren havn't been successful you can blame the Benz engines!

 

Spot on. This is a question of when not if.

 

And Columbian drivers

 

Manufacturers were welcome in F1 as a lifeline after tobacco advertising became under threats. The big cigarette companies have been the 'blood' of F1 since the 60s. Now that they are out, car manufacturers replace them.
Difference is that whilst tobacco companies didn't interfere much with the politics in F1, manufacturers have a different agenda.

I believe that most manufacturers will LEAVE F1 in the long run. Or they would have achieve their ambition to a certain extent, or they won't be able to justify the expense for a mediocre result.
As engine suppliers, they have come and gone in the past: Honda, Renault, BMW years ago.
As F1 teams they will do the same; Ford has already pulled out. I have the feeling that Renault will be next.
That doesn't concern Ferrari which has been in F1 since its creation.

 

I'm with you on this one. I have not seen where buyng an existing team puts a manufacturerer "ahead of the curve".

But that is not my primary reason for not wanting to see this happen. I do not want to see the McLaren name disappear from the F1 grid, and I have no idea if Mercedes would respect the history of the marque. It is sad we no longer have a Lotus or Tyrrell on the grid, to see McLaren go away would be wrong.

If there would be contractual means that require the McLaren name to continue, then so be it. If not, let them buy Toro Rosso if they want an existing team with which to play, or as you say A1, let them start their own team.

 

I knew someone would say this. It's about the details of what I wrote!

There are always exceptions to what the intentions of a manuf entering a sport are. Ferrari happens to be one of them and racing is just who they are.

 

You forgot the Jaguar fiasco...

 

Excellent post!

 

You mean Ford's failure!