Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz are a German automaker who have been involved in Motorsport since the late 19th century.
They have been involved in Grand Prix racing as a fully-fledged manufacturer as well as an engine supplier in Formula One.
Mercedes-Benz also have competed in sportscars, rallying and touring car racing.
Formula One
1950s
Mercedes made their first step into Formula One in 1953 after they purchased the assets of the Scuderia Maremmana outfit. Their two seasons in the top flight of motorsport were a complete and utter disaster and they failed to score any points in two seasons before they opted to leave after the 1954 season. The 1955 Le Mans disaster spelled the end for any further factory racing for Mercedes-Benz for several years.
Various Mercedes-Benz chassis and engines remained in circulation over the next few years - and a Bentley-engined Mercedes WM-2 even scored a single point in the 1955 Soviet Grand Prix at the hands of Stuart Lewis-Evans.
1990s
Mercedes returned to Formula One in the early 1990s as an engine supplier, eventually becoming the supplier to McLaren.
By 1998, McLaren were well established as Mercedes' de-facto Works team - a relationship that would continue until 2011. McLaren-Mercedes did the Constructor's and Driver's double in 1998, with Mika Häkkinen taking the crown with support from exciting young Briton James Davies.
