'No change' at Mercedesposted in F128 | 02 | 2011

MERCEDES MOTORSPORT boss Norbert Haug has stressed there will be no changes in the way the Mercedes GP team is run following the buyout of the Brackley-based outfit.

Daimler AG and Aabar Investments took full control of the team today having completed the purchase of the remaining 24.9%of the team, which was owned by the five shareholders involved in the original management buyout of Honda in 2009 — Ross Brawn, Nick Fry, Caroline McGrory, John Marsden and Nigel Kerr.

But Haug insisted that Brawn, the mastermind behind the seven years of success at Ferrari before leading Brawn to the championship in 2009, will remain as team principal.

"It doesn't change a lot in practical terms, but it shows our commitment," Haug, whose Mercedes cars will again be driven by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, said today. "This is the foundation of a long-term investment and strategy.

"We are investing in the future of F1 and that's a learning process, but there are clear limits from the resource restriction agreement and we think that we have a good baseline for the future. We think that we have very good people."

And Haug was quick to point out that such a buyout had always been a possibility and that all parties were happy with the move.

"It was not guaranteed from the beginning, but it was an option and a plan," he continued. "There were constructive discussions and everyone was in agreement that this was the right way to go.

"All of those shareholders, if you historically look back, did not plan to be the owners of an F1 team. Everyone involved agreed that it was a logical step, so we are happy about it."

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars

Jim McGill