From GMM If Formula 1 team McLaren is not in a position to win grands prix this season that is not the fault of engine and equity partner Mercedes-Benz. That was the message this week of the German carmaker's motor racing director Norbert Haug, after Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen put just 4 points apiece on the board in the first three races of 2009. "If everything was working in the way our KERS and engine is working, we would be fighting for the title," Haug said from Stuttgart. He insisted, however, that his comments "are not a criticism" of the McLaren team, despite the fact that everything except the engine and KERS is produced at Woking. Haug admitted: "On the aerodynamic side we could have done a better job." Additionally, like BMW, Mercedes-Benz may also be interested in becoming the sole supplier of standard KERS systems in formula one next year. BMW-Sauber is not even using KERS on both its cars at present: a strategy that makes little sense to Mercedes' racing chief Haug. Haug said it is "surprising" that despite BMW's total enthusiasm about implementing the technology this year, only German rival Mercedes has so far been totally committed to using it at races. Finally, Haug was asked if the customer Brawn and Force India cars might at some point bear the famous German name, or the three-pointed star. He answered in the negative. "That could be the wrong signal and look opportunistic," he replied. photo: WRI2
F1: Norbert Haug of Mercedes-Benz talks about team McLaren's performance