Mercedes' struggle to get a German national at the wheel of a works McLaren indicates a failure of the Stuttgart marque's management.
That is the assessment of Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former formula one driver who now represents the motor racing interests of the Volkswagen brand.
Stuck said there was a downside to Lewis Hamilton's breakthrough 2009 win last weekend in Hungary, and that was the fifth place finish of the Briton's Finnish teammate Heikki Kovalainen.
"How is it possible for Hamilton to win with the best car but Kovalainen is blown away by the brilliant Nico Rosberg in the weaker Williams?" he told Germany's Sport Bild.
It is speculated that Mercedes is trying to convince McLaren to pit Hamilton against 23-year-old Rosberg for the 2010 season.
But Stuck isn't convinced.
"I am forming the impression that either Haug doesn't want a German driver or he has no influence at a team where Mercedes is the majority owner."
Stuck said he believes a figure like Gerhard Berger, a former Toro Rosso co-owner and once joint BMW motor sport director, would have put Rosberg under contract with McLaren long ago.
Haug said in Budapest last weekend that it would be "nice" to see a countryman at the wheel of a silver arrows.
"I have stated that for 15 years and it is still the truth," the German said.
