Rosberg expects a level playing field at Mercedes

[alberto222mx]

The critics are being too hard with Schumacher this year. After three years of retirement and going back in a totally diferent F1 he is a rookie, and besides he had a disadvantage, all the rookies were competing at high level (GP2) while he was on holydays.
We should compare his performances with the other rookies in this year (Petrov, Hulkenberg, Kobayashi) and IMO he is doing a great job.
Obviously, the expectation with his return was watch him fighting for the WDC, but that's unrealistic.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

The day Mr. Mustache unveiled his Überpfiel whitewash I said that the whole thing was being handled in a way that wouldn't exactly make the boys building the car shine with pride.

The Launch of the W01 was actually a very low key event. The unveiling of the livery was rightly a big event, as it was the official return of the "silberpfiele".
Unless of course you wanted Mercedes to take the world media to a shed somewhere near Brixworth
But perhaps we are not being patient enough?

[Pup]

No, I think Zetche's calling them the German National Team was idiotic from a team-building standpoint. Almost as dumb as Schumi showing up for his first day at work dressed like a pimp and schooling his mechanics on how he likes his helmet polished. It was clear from the outset that this was an ego-driven affair, and I think it was only a matter of time before the seeds of discord began to flourish.

[godlameroso]

This is a related topic so I'm just going to say it anyway.

Do you think it's possible that a team like...let's say Ferrari could; give one of their cars all the experimental test equipment? Such as stuff that can be used for next season, without going into specifics, I see this as a way around the testing ban. Seeing as how Massa is now mathematically eliminated from the championship his performance could suffer just a bit as his equipment isn't geared to winning races but to test equipment, settings, etc.

[Pup]

I wouldn't really see much point in it. Apart from reliability testing, I would doubt there's a whole lot that can be learned over a race distance that can't be gleaned from 5 or 6 laps. Besides, unless the team is going for the driver's championship, they're mainly working to get the best constructors' position they can, which means getting both cars as high in the points as they can.

[xpensive]

I suspect that Ross Brawn has been sabotaging MS's comeback from the word go, this out of nothing but sheer jealousy that he himself never got the credit he deserved for the latter's seven WDC's. What better proof of Brawn's true value than MS looking mediocre as a driver?

The truth is out there...

[Pup]

I rather think that this is just exposing the myth of Schumacher the team-builder.

[andrew]

the mercedes thread having been locked

http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes/motorspor ... 30924.html

hands up everyone who believes rosberg is being given preference over schu

anyone?

I don't see where anyone says that they have not had the same equipment.

It is a fact that the car has not worked well in all races and Schumacher has had a lot of problems but to say that this is down to one driver having a better car than the other is a bit far fetched.

The problems on Schumachers side are from Merc having to change a car that is not suited to his style to matchhis style. This will always cause problems for the driver that the car is being changed for, in this case Schumacher.

[Giblet]

I rather think that this is just exposing the myth of Schumacher the team-builder.

Yes for the most part he has jumped into a team with a decent yet flawed, and fixable foundation this time.

We'll see how the things change over the other silly season, the team personnel.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

I rather think that this is just exposing the myth of Schumacher the team-builder.

Perhaps,

But like I would say to all Brawn/Schumacher/Mercedes detractors is give them a chance.
Basically it boils down to what happened last year. Mercedes cannot undo what was done, nor had they the appetite or gall to tell Brawn what to do.
The seed may be being planted this year for a more competitive year next year?

[xpensive]

I rather think that this is just exposing the myth of Schumacher the team-builder.

...
Mercedes cannot undo what was done, nor had they the appetite or gall to tell Brawn what to do.
...

I'm afraid that's xactly what happened, there's no way that bringing MS back was Ross Brwan's idea, surely all Norbert.

[mx_tifoso]

Not a single mention of Nico Rosberg in this page, so what is going on? If you have nothing on topic to add then just read and move along.

[xpensive]

Rosberg expects a level playing field at Mercedes

This topic is obviously as much about his team and MS as about Rosberg himself, what's your problem here anyway?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Rosberg expects a level playing field at Mercedes

This topic is obviously as much about his team and MS as about Rosberg himself, what's your problem here anyway?

Xpensive,

For the benefit of the Mods I will word it slightly differently to accomodate their needs.

Rosberg expects a level playing field at Mercedes, because he signed a water tight contract ensuring as much before Schumacher entered the fray. Schumacher would also probably have been made aware of this prior to signing on the dotted line.
And to suggest Haug went over Brawns head to get Schumacher is not realistic. Schumacher and Brawn are a double act, they know each other inside out and their partnership has yielded 7 championships.

So while it may have been Haugs idea, Brawn would not have protested at the proposal. Unless of course their relationship soured in old age, for which there is no evidence.

In the mean time, I think that Rosberg has had equal to Schumacher at the very least all season. We saw that in Japan very vividly, Schumacher was given no special dispensation to be allowed past Rosberg.
Ferrari take note!

[zeph]

In the mean time, I think that Rosberg has had equal to Schumacher at the very least all season. We saw that in Japan very vividly, Schumacher was given no special dispensation to be allowed past Rosberg.
Ferrari take note!

Fair enough, but the situation is slightly different. Rosberg has been MGP's main man this year, and they had nothing to gain from Schu overtaking him.

Ferrari had everything to gain from letting Alonso past Massa. And the current standings in the WDC sort of justify their actions, I think.