Extreme staff contracting.

[Zynerji]

The first one to bring it to the track reaps the rewards.

Best case scenario of poaching talent still puts you a season behind...

[dans79]

The first one to bring it to the track reaps the rewards.

Best case scenario of poaching talent still puts you a season behind...

And if said tech took 2 , 3 or even 4 seasons to develop, they should continue to reap the rewards.

[Zynerji]

Current season leave is understandable, but the following year as well? That's just a brutal way to outspend your competition, belittle the human element, and deprive the fans of closer competition.

Not my idea of Sport.

[gshevlin]

IMHO the whole idea behind the sudden attack of 18-24 months of "gardening leave" is to prevent rival engine builders from using ex-Mercedes staff on development of power units for the new engine formula starting in 2021. Mercedes wants to ensure that its current gen secrets do not get rolled into all of the rival power units at the beginning of 2021. Delaying start dates until 2019 helps put rivals behind the curve.

[gshevlin]

At some point, this approach by Mercedes will probably lead to a "test case" in the courts, as one or more departing employees seeks to have their gardening leave shortened, claiming restraint of trade.

[gshevlin]

Another thought I have is that the decision by Mercedes might be their way of hitting back at Renault over the appointment of Marcin Budkoswki to their team from his current FIA role. A deliberate attempt to deny Renault any more IP access in the short term.

[marmer]

Just to add this also can be applied to drivers. When vet was leaving red bull they kept him away from all development meetings for the car he still got upgrades but had no idea what was in the pipeline to stop him telling Ferrari of any good ideas

[dans79]

Another thought I have is that the decision by Mercedes might be their way of hitting back at Renault over the appointment of Marcin Budkoswki to their team from his current FIA role. A deliberate attempt to deny Renault any more IP access in the short term.

Thats not how something like this works. This is something an employee agreed to when they joined Merc. I have something similar in my contract, if i leave of my own will i can't work for a direct competitor untill 1 year after I leave.

This is not something i court is going to overtern as its a legally binding agreement.

[dans79]

Not my idea of Sport.

This isnt sport, its business.

[Oversteer]

All being said anything more than 6 months is unreasonable!


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[dans79]

All being said anything more than 6 months is unreasonable!

Says who? If the employee agreed to 5 years in their contract when they Joined Merc, then that's what they have to sit out.

[Maritimer]

When you spend hundreds of millions developing a powerplant it's not unreasonable to want to protect that information in every way possible. There's an awful lot of salty characters in this thread upset about water tight contract clauses that were agreed upon by both parties. Get over it.

[Zynerji]

Not my idea of Sport.

This isnt sport, its business.

Actually, it is a sport. By definition.

[dans79]

Actually, it is a sport. By definition.

The racing is, designing and building mechanical components is not.

[Zynerji]

Actually, it is a sport. By definition.

The racing is, designing and building mechanical components is not.

To a contracted team of the F1 Concorde, actually, it is.