Mercedes look to invest more in McLaren

Mercedes-Benz currently own a 40% stake in McLaren, with Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojjeh the remaining shareholders.

When asked yesterday if Mercedes are looking to increase their stake in the company,
Whitmarsh replied: "I think it is not for me to comment as to whether the private shareholders are willing to sell or not - those are discussion between the shareholders.

"But what I can say is that the level of interest in McLaren from Mercedes-Benz is higher than it has ever been on all front, and I think there is absolutely and clearly a commitment to being in F1 for a long time.

"There is also a refreshed interested, I'm pleased to report, in our road car activity. So the environment is there, but whether a deal occurs or not, that's for the shareholders to say. Of course I have some notion of that, but I think it's up the shareholders to comment and not me."

Whitmarsh revealed Mercedes and McLaren are currently looking at expanding the road car development and production in Woking, adding: "It is looking increasingly likely that there will be a range of sportscars that are developed in Woking in the future.

"It is good for us as a group; it gives us the industrial strength to develop the company. But it means that we have to win in Formula One, because our brand and our position relies on how we do in Formula One.

"But that's good, because it puts pressure on all parties to ensure that we succeed."