11/04/2007
NEWS STORY
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Sections of the German media are up in arms following McLaren's 1-2 in Malaysia at the weekend.
The reason?
Well, according to the German press, McLaren, founded by a New Zealander, and subsequently purchased by an Englishman, is a German team, and as such it is the German national anthem which should have been played during Sunday's podium ceremony and not the British.
With Mercedes-Benz owning a 40 slice of the Woking based outfit, the German media is claiming at there is no question; "it is our car!" claims Bild.
Furthermore, Hans-Joachim Stuck, an ambassador for German rivals BMW, claims that the issue is not difficult to understand, McLaren is a German team. Referring to Mercedes famous logo which adorns the MP4-22's nose he said: "The heart of the silver arrows is in Germany."
Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug has attempted to play down the furore, claiming that it doesn't matter whose anthem is played, stating that the team is international"
International it truly is, what with Mercedes-Benz owning 40 percent, Bahrain's Mumtalakat Holding Company owning 30 percent and Ron Dennis and Mansour Ojjeh sharing the remaining 30 percent.
Since it is highly unlikely that the FIA will be persuaded to play Lied der Deutschen, Bahrainona, God Save The Queen and Aash Al Maleek, it might be best to leave things as they are, and play the same tune that has been heard so many times before when McLaren drivers have stood atop the podium.