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No divisions at Mercedes - Haug

ESPNF1 Staff
September 27, 2010 « Heidfeld confident he will stay in F1 next year | »
Mercedes insists there are no divisions at the team and Michael Schumacher says he will stay © Getty Images
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Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has played down rumours of discord within his team.

Two weeks ago at Monza, speculation swept the Italian paddock that Michael Schumacher could follow team boss Ross Brawn out of Mercedes at the end of 2010. The rumours are based on indications that the team could have another difficult season in 2011 and claim that Brawn and Haug are at odds over the direction the team should take.

"We have full confidence in Ross," Haug told Turun Sanomat newspaper. "Work for the future is going well. It is normal that rumours come and go. I've heard rumours about Michael, about me and about Ross. When I say no, I mean no, and when I say yes, I mean yes. My answer is no; there are no cracks in the relationship."

He also insisted that the commitment of Mercedes-Benz and its parent company Daimler is not wavering either.

"The automotive industry has gone through a crisis, and several other manufacturers have left F1," Haug said. "Mercedes is committed to the future of this sport. We do not yet have a winning team, but we are putting in the work to become a winning team."

Schumacher also confirmed his commitment to the team over the weekend, telling reporters: "You cannot get rid of me, let's put it this way."

He added: "Our goal is naturally to win the championship, better earlier than later. But it is a process and we are not magic, so we trying to maximise our opportunity in deciding early to prepare for 2011.

"The process has started naturally whereas the teams that are contending for the championship have to keep doing a programme, we hope that will give us a slight advantage for restarting in 2011."

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