Mercedes GP | Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team | Info and Stats

Mercedes GP F1 Facts

Team: Mercedes GP
Drivers: Michael Schumacher - Nico Rosberg
Engine: Mercedes FO 108X
F1 Debut: 1954 - French Grand Prix

• Mercedes first took part in Formula One in 1954 and 1955. The team won the World Championship with Juan Manuel Fangio in both seasons.
• Mercedes had been very successful in Grand Prix racing prior to the formation of the Formula One World Championship in 1950.
• The company withdrew from all motorsport in 1955 when one of its cars was involved in the Le Mans disaster that killed 84 spectators.
• Mercedes began sportscar racing with Sauber in the 1980's, and supplied the Sauber Formula One team with engines in 1994.
• In 1995, Mercedes began supplying engines to McLaren exclusively. In 2000 Mercedes also bought a 41% share in the team.
• McLaren have since won 59 races and 4 championship using Mercedes engines. Brawn also won 8 races and the World Championship with Mercedes engines in 2009.
• Mercedes agreed to supply engines to Ross Brawn's team in 2009 in a last minute deal after Honda's sudden withdrawal from F1.
• In 2009, McLaren launched their own supercar without any assistance from Mercedes. Since the two companies are now competing with each other for road car sales, Mercedes has sold its share in McLaren.
• Mercedes will continue supplying engines to McLaren in 2010 and beyond, but has bought BrawnGP outright and will enter the team as Mercedes GP in 2010.
• Ross Brawn is still the Team Principal of Mercedes GP.
• Michael Schumacher will make his Formula One comeback with Mercedes in 2010, having previously raced for the company in sportscars twenty years ago.
• The team had been expecting to field Jenson Button alongside Nico Rosberg in 2010. When Button jumped unexpectedly to McLaren, the door opened for Schumacher to make his return.