Merc considers McLaren buyout

Mercedes-Benz is on the verge of buying a majority shareholding in the McLaren group, a move which could spell the end of Ron Dennis's control of the British formula one team. The potential buyout seemed a step closer yesterday with the unveiling of the McLaren-Mercedes MP4-23 car for the forthcoming season in the German manufacturer's ultramodern museum complex in Stuttgart. It was the first time in their 13-year partnership that McLaren had unveiled their new formula one car on Mercedes' home turf and Dennis took very much a back seat at the formal press conference.