McLaren buys back Mercedes-Benz shares

The McLaren Group has repurchased the majority of shares which were previously held in the company by Mercedes-Benz. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have been associated since 1995. This season, the Stuttgart manufacturer has returned to the pinnacle of motorsport as works team.

Martin Whitmarsh, Team Principal of the McLaren F1 Team, said to news agency 'Reuters': "I think it's about 11 percent which is still owned by Mercedes, but it's not an important or significant number.

When Mercedes decided to buy Brawn GP on 16 November, the two parties decided to part ways and agreed on a plan to gradually move back the shares to McLaren. Daimler AG originally owned 40% of the McLaren Group, but by 2011 McLaren will become a fully independent operation.