Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 2014

[FoxHound]

I thank you lads

The only caveat would be that last year Merc really only jumped Ferrari, when, in the middle of the season, Pirelli fixed their main issue for them. If changing to tougher tires wasn't enough, they let Merc have a private test in a 2013 car, when we ALL knew the regs didn't allow a current car. Regardless of which tires were tested, you will not convince me Merc didn't learn a trick or two that they could apply to virtually and modern Pirelli f1 tire.

Queue one of my now infamous GIFS.



The main issue of the tyre test was the FIA's ridiculous actions that led up to it. If the FIA said, no, then Pirelli and Mercedes would not have conducted it. Charlie "grey area" Whiting gave the all clear.
Was it advantageous to Mercedes? Probably.
But Ferrari too conducted a test on similiar spec tyres, with what was deemed a "representative" car to the current(2013) rule set.
Again, an embarrassment for the FIA.

I'll readily admit to experiencing a certain amount of schadenfreude over the last few years as Mercedes struggled and repeatedly said their goal was 2014, because those claims sounded like lip service every single time. (As a Ferrari fan, you sorta grow accustomed to, if not jaded by, empty promises and unfulfilled "potential."

I was never in any doubt. At all. :-"
Personally, I think the cycles of success need to be looked at here. Ferrari crush ass when it comes to winning, synonymous with the brand really. Mercedes too, command this sort of reverence when they go racing.
But, as ever...only 1 car can win. And when you don't, people want to know why....what's being done about it? When will the change be implemented.

I think this was probably Brawn's greatest attribute. When thing's changed, they didn't immediately show promise.
But, his patience allowed stability and improvements could filtered methodically. If it did't work, try again...and again.
If we look at Ferrari without him, it's tumultuous. Upheaval left right and centre, this sort of environment has people looking over their shoulder or worse...point fingers at fellow colleagues.

I think F1 hasn't seen the last of him, and....I've a tidy sum on him returning within 2 years....to Ferrari.

[Sevach]

Some info on the braking situation, and why it might've happened.

[astracrazy]

good post foxhound. You also forgot about the master stroke from Ross with the tyre test last year, Paddy or Toto wouldn't have the balls to pull such a stunt.

As you say there were many fool guys leading up to this year who really deserve some credit now (even though it didn't look the case at the time).

I think Ross was the biggest of them all and i doubt we know the real reason why he left because the timing didn't make sense.

I fear Paddy, Toto and Nikki will take the glory at the end of this season, when in reality its far from the case and its likely Ross won't even be mentioned.

Firstly, an epic post by Foxhound. You distilled my opinions into it's purest form and made a very fine whiskey of it. =D>

Secondly, I mostly agree with the post of astracrazy apart from the bolded part. From what I can tell, the likes of Paddy, Toto, Niki and pretty much everyone (bar Roscoe, the bastard) have given full credit to Ross from the very first race. I'm willing to take any bet that they will again when they've won the championships. They've been very sincere about giving him credit.

your right actually, i've read some of the links posted after my post.

Ross leaving is a loss to Merc one way or another, even if it is sugar coated over this year. When things get a little bit tougher it will show more

[xpensive]

...
I think this was probably Brawn's greatest attribute. When thing's changed, they didn't immediately show promise.
But, his patience allowed stability and improvements could filtered methodically. If it did't work, try again...and again.
If we look at Ferrari without him, it's tumultuous. Upheaval left right and centre, this sort of environment has people looking over their shoulder or worse...point fingers at fellow colleagues.
...

Sure you're not thinking of Jean Todt Fox, imo Brawn was little more than MrM's ambassador to FIA's preferred winners?

[diego1960]

Enter the W05.
This more than anything is cumulative work put in by Brawn, his team and Mercedes. The hashtags on the side of the cars for Micheal are nice touch...but underneath that...they should have #DankeRoss.

No.

A million times no.

Ross isn't a designer and the only thing i personally would thank him about (apart from hiring competent people, but that's his job),is recognizing he is inadequate for the job and retiring. Better late than never though.

W05 is a work of designers and speciallists, NOT Brawn.

The only man I miss from the 2012 team is MSC, I can live without Ross or Haug or whoever else.

[Glyn]

One thing I don't like is the way Toto Wolf appears to not be genuine when talking in front of the camera.

[FoxHound]

Enter the W05.
This more than anything is cumulative work put in by Brawn, his team and Mercedes. The hashtags on the side of the cars for Micheal are nice touch...but underneath that...they should have #DankeRoss.

No.

A million times no.

Ross isn't a designer and the only thing i personally would thank him about (apart from hiring competent people, but that's his job),is recognizing he is inadequate for the job and retiring. Better late than never though.

W05 is a work of designers and speciallists, NOT Brawn.

The only man I miss from the 2012 team is MSC, I can live without Ross or Haug or whoever else.

With some respect, please read after the commas. Cumulative work by Brawn, his team and Mercedes.

[Pierce89]

Enter the W05.
This more than anything is cumulative work put in by Brawn, his team and Mercedes. The hashtags on the side of the cars for Micheal are nice touch...but underneath that...they should have #DankeRoss.

No.

A million times no.

Ross isn't a designer and the only thing i personally would thank him about (apart from hiring competent people, but that's his job),is recognizing he is inadequate for the job and retiring. Better late than never though.

W05 is a work of designers and speciallists, NOT Brawn.

The only man I miss from the 2012 team is MSC, I can live without Ross or Haug or whoever else.

That's ridiculous. The 2014 season Merc is having now would NOT have happened if it wasn't for Ross Brawn. He built this team from a skeleton to beast it is now. He deserves more credit than any single person. These designers you brag about were given years and virtually unlimited resources for this project specifically because of Brawn's single minded focus on building this team for the 2014 season. This car is the success it is only because the team Brawn created focused on this car years ago and were given the environment and resources to succeed. A lot of the "designers" and other day to day engineers built garbage for years, until Brawn orchestrated the crushing 2014 attack.

[diego1960]

No, sorry, I consider any credit given to Brawn (APART from gathering the right people) simply ridiculous. That's all he did, and apparently when he left nothing became worse, on the contrary I would say that even with Lauda who is know to be short-tempered, the team works beautifully. Brawn might have been useful back in the Ferrari years, but in his Mercedes career he failed and rightly does not continue in the position anymore. In fact it was the best possible decision, to let Haug/Brawn go, the old-timers weren't up to the task of leading anymore.

Costa, Bell etc. in my book deserve far more appreciation and credit than Brawn for they designed the car. An it's not only them, many more people who are simply not known and worked hard to make the W05 one of the most dominant cars ever.

Also I give more credit to the Mercedes board that LET Brawn go on with hiring people by giving him the budget he needed, the environment, the facilities etc. The same board that stayed loyal to the project even if the results didn't come and sometimes, the races where embarrassing and painful to watch for us fans.

Do not forget what garbage Brawn's team built before the big-hiring that was orchestrated by Dr. Zetsche. Excuses can be found of course (low budget, people that where fired etc), but merely the point that many people think of him as inadequate/not successful in his Mercedes years should be enough to see that he wasn't untouchable and genius as portrayed here by some users.

Anyway, I doubt that we will ever agree and history is already written so we should look forward to what this team may do this year and in the years to come.

[Pierce89]

No, sorry, I consider any credit given to Brawn (APART from gathering the right people) simply ridiculous. That's all he did, and apparently when he left nothing became worse, on the contrary I would say that even with Lauda who is know to be short-tempered, the team works beautifully. Brawn might have been useful back in the Ferrari years, but in his Mercedes career he failed and rightly does not continue in the position anymore. In fact it was the best possible decision, to let Haug/Brawn go, the old-timers weren't up to the task of leading anymore.

Costa, Bell etc. in my book deserve far more appreciation and credit than Brawn for they designed the car. An it's not only them, many more people who are simply not known and worked hard to make the W05 one of the most dominant cars ever.

Also I give more credit to the Mercedes board that LET Brawn go on with hiring people by giving him the budget he needed, the environment, the facilities etc. The same board that stayed loyal to the project even if the results didn't come and sometimes, the races where embarrassing and painful to watch for us fans.

Do not forget what garbage Brawn's team built before the big-hiring that was orchestrated by Dr. Zetsche. Excuses can be found of course (low budget, people that where fired etc), but merely the point that many people think of him as inadequate/not successful in his Mercedes years should be enough to see that he wasn't untouchable and genius as portrayed here by some users.

Anyway, I doubt that we will ever agree and history is already written so we should look forward to what this team may do this year and in the years to come.

Just who do you think Costa, Bell etc. worked under? Do you realize that Brawn DESIGNED cars like the Jaguar xj-14? These designers you're in love with, have mentioned before that Brawn's guidance was very valuable .
Hamilton said earlier this year,Brawn deserved the credit for 2014.

As an aside, in f1, simply getting the right people is a very difficult task. Also in 2010-11, considering their staffing levels, I'd say Brawn did a good job beating all the midfield teams.

[i70q7m7ghw]

No, sorry, I consider any credit given to Brawn (APART from gathering the right people) simply ridiculous. That's all he did, and apparently when he left nothing became worse, on the contrary I would say that even with Lauda who is know to be short-tempered, the team works beautifully. Brawn might have been useful back in the Ferrari years, but in his Mercedes career he failed and rightly does not continue in the position anymore. In fact it was the best possible decision, to let Haug/Brawn go, the old-timers weren't up to the task of leading anymore.

Costa, Bell etc. in my book deserve far more appreciation and credit than Brawn for they designed the car. An it's not only them, many more people who are simply not known and worked hard to make the W05 one of the most dominant cars ever.

Also I give more credit to the Mercedes board that LET Brawn go on with hiring people by giving him the budget he needed, the environment, the facilities etc. The same board that stayed loyal to the project even if the results didn't come and sometimes, the races where embarrassing and painful to watch for us fans.

Do not forget what garbage Brawn's team built before the big-hiring that was orchestrated by Dr. Zetsche. Excuses can be found of course (low budget, people that where fired etc), but merely the point that many people think of him as inadequate/not successful in his Mercedes years should be enough to see that he wasn't untouchable and genius as portrayed here by some users.

Anyway, I doubt that we will ever agree and history is already written so we should look forward to what this team may do this year and in the years to come.

Brawn deserves a nod for 2014, and also deserves full credit for the 2009 championships, since it was him who was running the Honda team before they pulled the plug! I don't think it's fair to use the words "garbage" or say "were not up to the task anymore" in the same sentance as names like Brawn or Haug. Those men have got a lot of success behind them, and you should show some more respect.

Success in F1 is built up from the foundations laid in the years before. Red Bull did not start winning immediately when Adrian Newey joined the team, it took a couple of years to build up to that success. The same thing happened at Honda/Brawn and now Merc. Heck you can even look back at how the same thing was done at Ferrari when Schumacher joined the team!

[prince]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115181
http://en.espnf1.com/hungary/motorsport ... 69777.html

This is what Lauda and Toto have said after the race. They both agree that Nico didn't had the pace. The pit wall got "PANICKED" and that is what happens when you have inexperienced and immature leaders making decisions in a highly competitive environment.

When Mercedes eventually lose their dominant pace and becomes JUST COMPETITIVE, there will be more situations like these for PIT WALL to handle. Day by day, Paddy Lowe is fast becoming invisible from the leadership role and I guess he is just an YES BOSS MAN for Toto. It is pity that he aspired to take over the role from Ross Brawn. It is so common in the leadership world that, idiots not just long for taking over from more successful bosses, thinking that they can do better, but also screws up all the ingredients of success and bring it back to ground.

On another note, I realized Paddy is not just a SHORT SIZED man compared to Brawn, but also appears that he is also a SHORT STATURED man too.

[SectorOne]

Thanks guys. And holy .... that´s expensive. Yea i will be keeping a close eye on the twitter from here on, the white one is just cap porn.
Is there a limit to how many you can buy? Seems like an easy way to make a significant buck with that sort of prize bumps.

The optimal for me would be to have one without LH logos and Merc logo but i guess that´s impossible.

[dans79]

what does everyone think they are going to do?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115184

[turbof1]

what does everyone think they are going to do?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115184

I believe they'll just drop any sort of teamorder. What else can they do?

-Hamilton showed he isn't going to obey and I don't see how they can discipline him for that.
-Rosberg saw that and certainly isn't going to follow orders now either.
-The WCC is realistically speaking in the pocket, the interests of the team are secured pretty much, so they can give their drivers all the freedom they can have save from touching eachother. So the interests of the team will come after the interests of the drivers from now on.