Erich Klemm, chairman of Daimler's Corporate Works Council and an employee representative, yesterday insisted that he doesn't understand the company's change of strategy for the future. His personal belief is that leaving McLaren would have been the perfect opportunity to leave the costly Formula One and focus on their production car operations.
“(...) exit at McLaren-Mercedes was a chance to completely leave the costly and controversial circus. We can not understand why the board of directors has immediately started a new formula one project,” Klemm was quoted as saying to the DPA news agency.
“In the (car) factories, every cent is being turned over three times. The employees are feeling the financial crisis with shorter working hours and loss of income. In these economically difficult times, the company should invest in better marketing of its real cars,” added Klemm.
It appears the Brawn GP buyout cost Mercedes-Benz a huge 200 million pounds sterling, according to British media reports, but the plans for the future include only a 50 million pounds sterling budget year in and year out. In addition, the team will keep its Brackley facility in the UK.
Bernie Ecclestone, on the other hand, expressed his enthusiasm over the Monday announcement from Daimler, saying that Brawn GP's buyout actually secured the team's future in the sport.
“Now we have two strong teams (McLaren and Silver Arrows). Brawn might not have survived in the long term. The sport is strong and we will be in for a big fight next year,” Ecclestone told the UK's Daily Express.
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