From GMM

Team chief executive Martin Whitmarsh has admitted at Hockenheim that German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is interested in buying the remainder of the McLaren Formula 1 organisation.

On the verge of the Mercedes' home race, Whitmarsh confirmed the constant speculation about McLaren's long-time partner wanting to up its share from the current 40 per cent.

McLaren teamed up with the Stuttgart manufacturer in 1995, and Mercedes-Benz is now the only carmaker on the grid that does not own its team outright.

"It's an interesting issue and a dilemma that faces the shareholders of this business - and to some extent the management," Whitmarsh told the International Herald Tribune newspaper.

"But I would be deeply disturbed if Mercedes had no real interest in acquiring us. I think it's a tangible demonstration of their commitment to this," he added.

Whitmarsh said: "They have a lot of investments already sunk in their formula one endeavours, and the fact that they would like to acquire control is a healthy ambition."

Norbert Haug, however - in charge of Mercedes' motor racing activities - tempered the situation by pointing out that equity is not everything.

"The question is how successful you are," said the German, who was also on the pitwall when McLaren-Mercedes won its last titles in 1998 and 1999.

Haug added: "It's not a question of what percentage you own. It's a question of how many points you have on your account at the end of the year. And so far we have more points for less money - for a car manufacturer."