Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[dren]

Agree. This driver pairing is the second strongest on the grid. I expect Schumacher to push Nico hard this year and perhaps beat him to the first podium.

[pocketmoon]

my 2 cents:
If clear shovlin,Schumacher and Rosberg do not find a solution after 2 years setting up dogs then there was no solution available on the day-end of story.
Clearly all involved said they were indeed working on performance ,as the car had no technical issues .

What else do you need to get told ? usually the team has three FP and the Qualy to find the correct setup here they had 4 days !
and don´t forget they ran the car before in Barcelona .

Then you don't understand what the week was for. It was not for trying to find a set-up for a race at Barcelona with a new car. But I'm happy to accept it's 'end of story' and that there's is nothing else I 'need to get told'.

[cossie]

From Speed. EBD clap down by FIA

F1: Mercedes Triggered Latest FIA Clampdown - Report
Mercedes and Renault-powered teams found 'loophole'...
SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted February 27, 2012 GMM Newswire



Mercedes Petronas F1 team drivers Germans Michael Schumacher (Left) and Nico Rosberg (Right) pose after unveiling the W03 2012 car during day one of Formula One winter testing. (Photo: Getty Images)
The latest twist in F1's endless 'blown diffuser' saga was reportedly triggered by Mercedes.

Amid last week's Barcelona test, it was rumored that Mercedes and Renault-powered teams would have to make tweaks, after a loophole was discovered in the standard electronics software.

For 2012, the FIA has clamped down on engine exhaust blowing for aerodynamic purposes, but speculation continued to sweep the paddock that some teams had devised ways to minimize the impact of the ban.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that it was Mercedes engineers who found the loophole, in terms of how to utilize the standard electronic software to maximize the off-throttle exhaust blowing effect.

"The FIA has responded by rewriting the software," read the report.

Auto Motor und Sport said Mercedes was right about the loophole, but that it could only have been exploited at the price of dramatic fuel consumption, and potential damage to the engine.

"We have erred on the safe side," an FIA source is quoted as saying.

Writing in Spain's Mundo Deportivo, Raymond Blacafort said the 2012 Red Bull's exhaust was making a strange sound in the chicane in Barcelona last week.

[Mr.S]

Nico will win the qualy war pretty easily. I want to see what happens with a Nico-Seb combination. Ive got a feeling Nico can beat Seb in qualy or take him to the limit. Nico is a tremendous qualifier.

[NewtonMeter]

From Speed. EBD clap down by FIA

F1: Mercedes Triggered Latest FIA Clampdown - Report

...

Very interesting, thanks. My initial thought when the news broke last week was "Oh no, this will disadvantage Merc". But if they're the ones that reported it, then it will probably disadvantage the Renault engine boys more.

Call me petty, but...

[Websta]

Ive got a feeling Nico can beat Seb in qualy or take him to the limit. Nico is a tremendous qualifier.

I doubt he would beat him. Mark Webber is an excellent qualifier and Vettel has easily had the measure of him in qualifying. Vettel is without a doubt one of the best qualifiers the sport has seen. I suppose the team mate comparison also compliments Rosberg as Schumacher was also excellent in qualifying (pre 2010), but it remains to be seen whether Schumacher's lost some of his form since his hiatus, or whether Rosberg is just that much better than him.

[cossie]

From Speed. EBD clap down by FIA

F1: Mercedes Triggered Latest FIA Clampdown - Report

...

Very interesting, thanks. My initial thought when the news broke last week was "Oh no, this will disadvantage Merc". But if they're the ones that reported it, then it will probably disadvantage the Renault engine boys more.

Call me petty, but...

no you misinterpreted the story wrong, it was triggered due to Merc and Renault finding loopholes, and the FIA thusly closing those loopholes, they were using blown diffusers to some extent and using open throttles

[Mr.S]

Ive got a feeling Nico can beat Seb in qualy or take him to the limit. Nico is a tremendous qualifier.

I doubt he would beat him. Mark Webber is an excellent qualifier and Vettel has easily had the measure of him in qualifying. Vettel is without a doubt one of the best qualifiers the sport has seen. I suppose the team mate comparison also compliments Rosberg as Schumacher was also excellent in qualifying (pre 2010), but it remains to be seen whether Schumacher's lost some of his form since his hiatus, or whether Rosberg is just that much better than him.

This has nothing to do with MSC. THE W02 which was more than 2s off the pace in Singapore was no way miraculously within 1s off the pace in Abu Dhabhi even if there were less bumps.

Just cant be. Nico got more out of that car than Seb got out of Red Bull. That 0.4-0.5 s off pole in Turkey of wherever was ridiculous,W02 was off the pace & should be.

Webber is literally mustering the car all over the place at the initial part of the lap & the tyres are dropping off & he is loosing multiple tenths in the last 2 sectors.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Reading on Twitter that Costa, Bell and Willis have now had 3 months together.

Apparently, as with all teams a big upgrade pack is heading Mercedes way for Melbourne, or possibly we may see something at the next test coming in a few days time.
The reason I'm highlighting this is because this will be the first bit of work which sees all 3 jointly working together.

Not knowing exactly where Mercedes are at present, it would be difficult to know if this upgrade will have a big bearing on the car.
I'm optimistic for Mercedes this year, but I still expect them to finish 4th.
Progress for me will be based on how much closer they can get to the front 3 during a race.
Ferrari may have troubles, but I can bet they will not last long as their concept is probably the bravest one out their and requires some fine tuning.

Mercedes will need to make hay during Ferrari's lull period if they are going to have a hope of snatching 3rd.

[Mr.S]

Anything less than a 3rd & Mercedes board will definitely fire the Management. Brawn is under pressure & has been saying they need 2 wins,1 each for Nico & MSC while Haug looks to be pleading for time.


What Mercedes board wants is progress and that is not 2-3 tenths but a substantial 5-6 tenths atleast & beating 1 of the TOP 3 teams. IF Mercedes comes 4th I doubt if MSC would want to renew to fight for 3-4th again & Nico might starting looking for greener pastures in 2014 or atleast be dissapointed.

I think there is 0% chance of a big upgrade in Melbourne. Brawn said it MULTIPLE times. NO CHANCE. They will be working to solve the setup issues to understand the car & get more pace out of the car. AND solve the Front Tyre Degradation issues.

Newey said it takes 6 months to study an innovation buy a team,conduct R&D & debut it in their car to work it properly. I think the BIG UPGRADE PACKAGE would come in Mugello.

There is 2 months (8 Weeks) left for Mugello. I think Mercedes will go ALL out for any COPYING or new ideas on their car. In between that,I think we will see very minor upgrades in the 1st 3 races. A Major Upgrade might even backfire when they attended only 1 Pre-season test yet.

[RB7ate9]

If there's one team that Mercedes should shoot for beating, it's Ferrari. Mclaren has the honed vision and drivers to really take a stronger fight to Red Bull (assuming Red Bull is still at top form). There is little to really inspire me about the new F2012. While testing times are no indicator of actual race speeds, it just...doesn't look right. The W03, though, does look like a refinement of the W02, and I have faith that Nico and Schumacher can deliver the goods as a team better than Alonso/Massa.

Of course, this is all 100% conjecture. But I agree with Mr. S about the need for Mercedes to break out from the 4th place malaise. Unlike Toro Rosso, Lotus/Renault, and Force India, Mercedes is a big name and a big corporation that expects more and more brilliant results the longer it pumps cash into a project, no matter how that cash is spent.

It could very well be that the other constructors (BMW, Audi, Honda, Toyota, etc.) are watching very intently Mercedes' progress as the indicator of the level of commitment and effort and its proportion to the rewards. With that in mind. I'm all for Mercedes...in P2 that is

[Eruuh]

From Speed. EBD clap down by FIA

F1: Mercedes Triggered Latest FIA Clampdown - Report

...

Very interesting, thanks. My initial thought when the news broke last week was "Oh no, this will disadvantage Merc". But if they're the ones that reported it, then it will probably disadvantage the Renault engine boys more.

Call me petty, but...

no you misinterpreted the story wrong, it was triggered due to Merc and Renault finding loopholes, and the FIA thusly closing those loopholes, they were using blown diffusers to some extent and using open throttles

merc reported that issue to the FIA. he is right

[Mr.S]

Ferrari are in the DOGhouse,knowing ferarri they have the capability to still win multiple races this year. But the real Kick in the Ass for them would be Fernando saying " THE CAR works only good in a VERY SHORT WINDOW" & that "This car would be struggle in longer races with varied setups" more. Or Something like that. Probably should not have the quoted.

Mercedes can honestly beat Ferrari. Nico's test was good enought for a Low to Mid 1-20's atleast while the best Massa could do in a Soft Tyre 2 Qualy Lap Run was 1.23.6 odd. This is Mercedes' Golden Chance. The car is fundamentally Good. Despite 2 Tests Ferrari say they only 20% of their car while 8 days of running can be like a WHOLE SEASON of GP Weekends.

Costa,Willis & Bell have been working 3 months now. Bell for almost a year. Costa for 5-6 months. There should be something Big for Mugello. I am confident that Ferrari cant sort out their car in the first 2-3 races.

[RB7ate9]

I am hoping that Mercedes can pull something like a better Lotus-Renault from this most recent season, where Nick and Petrov both got on the podium for the first two races, respectively, except - obviously - for more than 2 GPs.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

@ Mr S

How can you know if Mercedes dont finish third, Brawn et al will all be sacked?
You can guess of course but you are writing it as if its the truth.
A win a piece for Nico and Micheal huh or else the axe falls? Thats ludicrous.

Also, how do you know that Ferrari wont have worked out their car by Australia and it becomes a beast? This Ferrari is the most innovative car on the grid, and its also Ferrari we are talking about.
The dog house comments you make, suggest it will be a cake walk for Merc to get third! Well now I see why you are so dissapointed in Mercedes.

Its because your expectations of them are completely unrealistic.