What do you make of today's developments and what impact will they have on the sport?

This represents a major power shift in Formula One. This takeover is going to turn the Brawn team into a long-term major player to rank alongside McLaren and Ferrari. With the history and commitment of Mercedes-Benz behind them they are going to be a team to be reckoned with for years to come. I expect them to be extremely ambitious in terms of winning races and ultimately championships.

How quickly will the sport feel the effects of this?

The impact of this will be felt almost immediately, certainly by the start of next season. Next season's cars are going to be a return to the Silver Arrows of the past and by having this huge company take over the reins at Brawn, it will give the team confidence for its future. The takeover will help Brawn improve its strategic planning and advance its ability to make the most out of every challenge it faces.

In the long run the team will be looking to hire the very best drivers. It will come as no surprise to see the likes of Sebastian Vettel in a Mercedes car in 2012 and maybe even Lewis Hamilton could end up there, although Ferrari is another long-term option for Lewis.

What will make Mercedes GP so attractive to drive for? Will it be their financial muscle, their speed or something else?

The key to all this is Ross Brawn himself. The senior management at Mercedes-Benz have made it clear that Ross is pivotal in this takeover. It is an investment in Ross and the best drivers in the sport will want to work with him.

He has proved time and time again that he has the best strategic mind in the pit lane and now he has shown he can also manage a team after his astonishing double world championship win this year. It is a no-brainer for any ambitious, top-quality driver. Everyone will want to drive for Mercedes in the future because alongside McLaren and Ferrari they are going to dominate the sport. That's the level they want to reach.

What does this mean for McLaren?

McLaren are trying to put a brave face on this. Mercedes are still going to supply McLaren with engines until at least 2015 and that cannot be ignored because there will still be a very strong relationship there. But there is a sense that the power has drained away slightly from McLaren and has gone to Brackley, where Brawn is based. This is a huge investment in Ross Brawn, who will have made a substantial amount of money out of this, up to £30m, as the major shareholder in Brawn.

So are McLaren the major losers out of this deal?

McLaren are the big losers today - they have lost a fantastic partner in Mercedes. This wasn't just any partnership, the relationship between McLaren and Mercedes defined the company. McLaren have lost that and that will be significant.