Even though there has been a lot of speculation in the press in recent weeks about the future of McLaren with Mercedes as reports indicated that the German engine manufacturer was looking at purchasing he brawn Grand prix team, winners of this year’s world championship and easing out of their current deal with McLaren.

However, Mercedes boss Norbert Haug decided to clear the air in Abu Dhabi yesterday that there were no plans to walk away from the Woking based squad and a partnership that has proved to be very fruitful, instead they were honouring their long term commitment with the team that is only getting stronger at each passing event.

"There is a very firm decision that we have a long-term commitment to our partner McLaren," he said. "Rather than going into speculation I have to point out that this team works better together than ever before. To discuss other issues and other options that probably are in the background and that are internally discussed is just not the right thing to do. The only decision that is taken is that we are firm, here, partners and are connected for a long period of time."

Speculation increased at the venue of the season finale due to the fact that Daimler management were present at the event, fuelling rumours that they were there to announce a takeover of Brawn and the end of their deal with McLaren. However, Haug said it would make no sense whatsoever to do something like that at the race track....

"Our board members are here but they certainly are not here to publicly negotiate the future of our Formula One involvement. It just makes no sense," he said. "You could do that behind closed doors in Stuttgart or whatever, but you certainly won't do it at the race track. That these rumours are going around, fine. But my statement again is that we are 40 percent shareholders so Mercedes is a large part of McLaren."