Senna not part of Mercedes DTM team

Senna had tested for Mercedes after failing to secure a Brawn GP Formula 1 drive, and had been strongly linked to a move into the DTM.

But this afternoon Mercedes announced that its 2009 cars would go to Ralf Schumacher, Bruno Spengler, Paul di Resta and Gary Paffett, and that Senna had chosen not to be part of its squad.

"Talks with Bruno Senna after his DTM test in Hockenheim lasted until last night," said a Mercedes statement. "However, Bruno decided to focus completely on his Formula 1 chances and, of course, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport accepts this."

As predicted by AUTOSPORT, Mercedes has promoted former champion Paffett back into a new car after two seasons in year-old machinery. He joins countryman di Resta, who had been linked to F1 and GP2 opportunities over the winter, fellow returnee Spengler, and the already-announced Schumacher in Mercedes' leading AMG line-up.

Paffett and Schumacher have been able to move into newer cars thanks to Bernd Schneider's decision to retire and Jamie Green's demotion to a 2008 machine.

Susie Stoddart, Maro Engel and Mathias Lauda will also stay on in year-old cars, as Mercedes reduces its line-up from nine to eight entries for 2009.