Jan.6 (GMM) Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler no longer owns a share of the McLaren team, according to media reports.
McLaren, still powered by the marque's Brixworth-built engines, began its association with Mercedes in 1995, culminating in world championships and the German carmaker owning 40 per cent of the Woking based team.But when Mercedes took over Brawn in order to have its own works team ahead of the 2010 season, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said the plan was for McLaren to buy back the stake."The McLaren Group will become a fully independent stand-alone corporate entity," McLaren confirmed.But until last year, Mercedes still owned a minor share in the team.Media reports this week, however - including in the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport - revealed that Mercedes was no longer a McLaren shareholder as of 1 January 2012 following a "phased withdrawal".But McLaren will continue to run Mercedes' V8 engine free of charge this year, before the famous British team must pay in 2013."It remains to be seen if, with the introduction of the new 6 cylinder (engine rules), the Woking team will chose to stay with Mercedes in 2014," said Tuttosport.
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