Mercedes takes over champions Brawn

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One champions Brawn will compete as Mercedes Grand Prix next season after the German carmaker announced a takeover on Monday along with the sale of their stake in McLaren.

Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche, whose company owns Mercedes, said Ross Brawn would remain team principal while the carmaker will continue to supply long-term partners McLaren with engines until at least the end of 2015.

"In the changed environment of Formula One, we will face the competition on the most important motor sports stage from now on with our own Silver Arrows works team," he said.

Mercedes had been 40 percent shareholders in McLaren but that team, who won the 2008 drivers' title with Lewis Hamilton, said in a separate statement that they had agreed to buy back the stake by 2011.

Brawn GP, who emerged from the remains of departed Honda, won the championship in their debut season at the Brazilian Grand Prix last month with Britain's Jenson Button also securing the drivers' title.

Mercedes would not comment on who would be driving for Brawn, although Germany's Nico Rosberg looks certain to be in the line-up after leaving Williams.

Button is out of contract and has also been talking to McLaren as well as Brawn.

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