Rumours of a rift between the two has emerged

could it be the end?
By Natasha
June 4 2007

Reports suggest that Mercedes were left rather less than impressed by the SLR: Automotive News Europe reports that, despite their collaboration on the $600,000 SLR supercar, Mercedes are ready to call time on their partnership with McLaren, favouring a partnership with HWA for the SLR’s successor.

There has always been intense media speculations when the words McLaren and Mercedes are uttered, however this speculation seems to go against the current trend.

Most speculation is based on the assumption that McLaren will soon be a full Mercedes works team, and that it was more a case of when rather than if.

However after Ron Dennis and his silent partner Mansour Ojjeh decided to sell of some of their shares and they were not sold to Mercedes, other rumours started to emerge.

There has been growing speculation of a rift between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.

The two companies are very closely associated, as the F1 partnership demonstrates, with the German company owning one of the largest shares in the McLaren team and providing the Woking team with engines.

But Automotive News Europe reports that, despite their collaboration on the $600,000 SLR supercar, Mercedes are ready to call time on their partnership with McLaren, favouring a partnership with HWA for the SLR’s successor.

Reports suggest that Mercedes were left rather less than impressed by the SLR, apparently commenting on the project as "disappointed by the performance" of the original SLR, which coincidently was built at McLaren's F1 factory.

The reports also suggest that a prototype between HWA and Mercedes would be ready for next years Geneva motor show.

If the rumours are true, that would force McLaren to go it alone and work on their new ‘supercar’, which would be the successor the McLaren F1 - with reports saying it would be financed solely be the formula one team.

The report does not comment on whether this could impact McLaren and Mercedes F1 partnership, although this looks increasing unlikely.

And could their be more trouble in paradise?

Ron Dennis has made it clear he has no time for the ‘Red Bulletin’ in the team’s Motor Home.

"It's a piece of rubbish," Ron Dennis said, "and I don't think it has a place in grand prix racing.

"I have a simple view that if people want to come and enjoy our hospitality, then they should respect the fact that I don't like what I consider to be a controversial document coming into our facility."

Some observers' got a shock when on Sunday they saw Haug and Lauda laughing away reading the ‘Red bulletin’ at the McLaren 'communications centre' in Monaco.