Ron Dennis has revealed it was McLaren who initiated the decision to split with Mercedes rather than the opposite, which many thought.
The two companies have been working together since 1995 when Mercedes supplied engines to the team, before buying a 40% share in McLaren in 2000.
The relationship ended in 2009 when the German manufacturer took-over Brawn GP, and sold it’s shares in McLaren. Although an engine supply remains in place until the end of 2012.
Mercedes put the decision to split down to conflicting interests, with the new McLaren MP4-12C competing with the new Mercedes supercar, the SLS AMG – which is now the new safety car.
Dennis though, said the decision to part was because Mercedes wanted to control McLaren, something he was against.
“It was completely and utterly amicable. They continuously over the years wanted to have control of McLaren and we continuously told them we did not want them to have control of McLaren,” Dennis told Arabian Business magazine.
“The more they wanted it, the less we wanted to give it to them. Because you look at what happens… the influence they control is not always productive. CEOs change overnight. I have got 30-odd years of my life in this company, huge quantities of friends and people who have been through thick and thin with me, and I made it very clear to Mercedes-Benz, as did the other shareholders, that we are not for sale. They hankered always.
“We initiated it, we wanted to be independent. This wasn’t something which we weren’t party to. I mean engine supply to Brawn in 2008 [for the 2009] required our consent.”
He continued: “At the end of the day we were a fully integrated partner of Mercedes-Benz, and we still are. We are fiercely competitive on circuit, but off circuit we are still firm friends. I wouldn’t call it a sweetheart deal, but it was a win-win situation.
“They got exactly what they wanted: a grand prix team they had complete control over – and we had continuous engine supply and the ability to promote our product and build the McLaren brand.
“It was just a win-win situation. In the end, obviously, when we all realised this was going to happen, it was all very logical.”
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