Mercedes takes over Brawn GP

FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz is taking over champion team Brawn GP to return to Formula One racing under its own name for the first time in 55 years.

At the same time, Mercedes plans to sell its stake in McLaren, although a partnership with the British team since the mid-1990s will continue with it supplying engines until 2015.

While some leading carmakers have pulled out of the sport at the time of the economic downturn, such as Honda, Toyota and BMW, Mercedes was looking to enhance its brand name.