An agreement has almost been reached between Mercedes and Brawn GP

The news is known in the F1 world and remains unofficial for now, but a Brawn GP source has confirmed that the team will have Mercedes engines in 2010.

Publicly, team representatives, including owner Ross Brawn, have only expressed a desire to maintain ties with the German company, which, last year, stepped forward at the last minute to supply the engines to the championship leading team.

From that day on, Brawn has dominated the season and is on the verge of winning the drivers' and constructors' championships, and increasingly insistent rumors claim that Mercedes now wants to end its agreement with McLaren to buy the Brackley team.

An indication of Mercedes' eagerness to become increasingly involved with Brawn are rumors that the Germans want to add Nico Rosberg to the team for 2010.

The issue becomes more complicated because McLaren, according to its contract with Mercedes, can also veto German engine customers.

Until now it had been thought that Brawn's relationship with Mercedes beyond 2009 was based on a verbal agreement.

But according to a source from Brawn GP there is already a signed contract for the supply of engines for 2010 too.

Ross Brawn told German publication Sport Bild: “I know we would have great support in 2010.”

Andre' Cotta