Haug: No Team Orders at McLaren

Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard will be allowed to battle for the world drivers' championship without any interference from their McLaren team, Norbert Haug, head of the team's engine partners Mercedes-Benz, said on Friday.

"In the long run we will win more races and championships that way. No-one wants to be part of a team around a car that is told it is racing just to finish second," Haug said.

"That soon destroys the motivation to win and that is important to every team. Without it, teams lose their way. So we want both of our drivers to push hard to win and everyone in the team to push hard with them."

Haug said also that while he was a friend and admirer of Michael Schumacher, he did not envisage McLaren making any move to recruit him in the future as a replacement for either Hakkinen or Coulthard.

"We are very happy with our two drivers at the moment," he said.

Asked to comment on the furore surrounding Schumacher, who has been accused of being a bully with no ethics and no sense of sportsmanship, Haug said that the criticism of the driver was out of proportion to the alleged misdemeanours. "I think people are just trying to read far too much into this," he said.

Asked about reports that several manufacturers involved in Formula One were contemplating forming a syndicate and buying some of the equity in the business which controls the sport, Haug said he welcomed the idea.

"Yes, there have been discussions about the future of Formula One," he said. "They have agreed to talk about it until they can find a solution and it is a good idea. If eight manufacturers are involved, not just two, it is better isn't it? They will have some kind of influence in the sport but that is all."