Mercedes to buy McLaren?

German carmaker Mercedes could be set to buy the remaining sixty per cent of the McLaren team. The marque, whose collaboration with the Ron Dennis-led grand prix outfit finished second to Renault in the 2005 championships, is the only carmaker left in pitlane without total ownership of its formula one squad.

With Honda's recent 100 per cent buyout of BAR, Ferrari, Renault, BMW (Sauber) and Toyota are also carmaker-owned.

Mercedes' parent company, Daimler-Chrysler, bought 30 per cent of McLaren from Mansour Ojjeh in 1999, and ten per cent from boss Dennis.

Mercedes' Norbert Haug played down the buyout-suggestion in the Shanghai paddock: ''We own forty per cent of the McLaren group,'' he told the 'Premiere' network, ''which is a clear commitment to the sport.''