Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[Maelstrom]

[...] maybe totally different settings for Merc drivers to much gap between them. [...]

My thought as well. I wonder if Mercedes set up Rosberg for pole and Schumacher for the win. That seems like just the sort of trade-off one would make to split the difference of the Daffy Duct.

If you are right it will make tomorrow's race even more exciting. Also if it rains or the temps drop it might help Mercs a bit more.

[marcush.]

I´m not sure if Rosberg would agree to having his race setup compromised....IF he was convinced a win is on the cards.so maybe you are right and Nico went for out and out speed and is hoping for rain and whatever when Schumacher has compromised a bit to get the most out of the race as he did already last year...
trap speeds were not much off but different indicating some set difference -Mercedes is not very quick on the straights...(p10/13)

[Maelstrom]

I´m not sure if Rosberg would agree to having his race setup compromised....IF he was convinced a win is on the cards.so maybe you are right and Nico went for out and out speed and is hoping for rain and whatever when Schumacher has compromised a bit to get the most out of the race as he did already last year...
trap speeds were not much off but different indicating some set difference -Mercedes is not very quick on the straights...(p10/13)

p10/13 from pole and second position? That's a little harsh.

[munudeges]

So has anyone else heard that Mercedes are pulling out of F1?

It's all over the German newspapers. A friend (who can read German)told me about it. Seems like the major investors want out. The suggestion received a standing ovation.

This has been rumbling on for some time under the surface. Quite a number of investors have been perplexed about Mercedes spending lots of cash on their own Formula 1 team for some time.

Merc will definitely be keeping their ducted rear wing.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Merc being the only genuine manufacturer still participating in F1, these rumblings are always bound to happen.

But after today, I think this single loud mouthed shareholder(actually, Ingo Speich is not a shareholder per se, but one that acts on behalf of a sharholder) will be looking fairly meekly at his statements.

The bottom line is that yes Mercedes are still behind the front runners. But, we can see tangible evidence that they are moving forward.
To call it quits now, would be a catastrophic decision almost reminiscent of Honda's decision to throw 160 million at its 2009 challenger only to call it quits in December 2008.

Not saying Mercedes will have a "BGP001", but they certainly arent here to make up the midfield.

I re assert my belief that if Mercedes can come to a concorde agreement, they will remain in F1. If not, Mercedes will quit, or at least use the EU law for fair competition for a litigation case the size of which F1 has not seen since Senna's death.

[raymondu999]

Merc being the only genuine manufacturer still participating in F1

Why do you not consider Ferrari a manufacturer? And to a lesser extent, we have the semi-manufacturers in Caterham, Marussia and McLaren? (I say semi because they don't use their own engines). Honest question.

[wunderkind]

Merc being the only genuine manufacturer still participating in F1

Why do you not consider Ferrari a manufacturer? And to a lesser extent, we have the semi-manufacturers in Caterham, Marussia and McLaren? (I say semi because they don't use their own engines). Honest question.

I suppose "genuine" is not the most appropriate description. But Mercedes Benz is certainly the only mainstream volume car manufacturer that is a constructor as well as an engine manufacturer in F1 today. Not to mention its rich history in Motorsport. Renault is only an engine supplier today and Ferrari is a small volume manufacturer of high-end exclusive sportscars. McLaren is an aspiring marque similar to Ferrari.

[raymondu999]

If JET had said "mainstream" I'd have agreed. But Ferrari is a genuine manufacturer too. Albeit less mainstream.

[Maelstrom]

The team boss hinted that both Mercedes could have gone faster still.

"We backed off once we saw that we weren't really under any threat because Lewis has got a penalty," Brawn said. "We wanted to try and save a set of tyres."

I find the above quote from Ross Brawn interesting. I wonder if its true or he's just playing mind games.

[wunderkind]

The team boss hinted that both Mercedes could have gone faster still.

"We backed off once we saw that we weren't really under any threat because Lewis has got a penalty," Brawn said. "We wanted to try and save a set of tyres."

I find the above quote from Ross Brawn interesting. I wonder if its true or he's just playing mind games.

Mercedes probably hasn't run it's DDRS system to its maximum setting for fear that the FIA might reverse its ruling if they do run away from the rest of the field. The FIA wants to level the playing field, not to give any one team an unassailable advantage.

Another thing I want to add is how good the Mercedes W03 looked in sector 2. It looked so planted and great traction into and out of the corners. It shows what the W03 is capable of if it gets it's tyres to work properly.

[ivand911]

[...] maybe totally different settings for Merc drivers to much gap between them. [...]

My thought as well. I wonder if Mercedes set up Rosberg for pole and Schumacher for the win. That seems like just the sort of trade-off one would make to split the difference of the Daffy Duct.

If you are right it will make tomorrow's race even more exciting. Also if it rains or the temps drop it might help Mercs a bit more.

Expected temperatures tomorrow are 12-19C. I can't think for lower than that.

[Artur Craft]

Nico so fast today!! maybe totally different settings for Merc drivers to much gap between them.

BTW: on pole lap Nico use all KERS before long straight line.

I don't think it was setup.

Michael screwed his S3, over 0,4s deficit in Q3 there.

In the other sectors, he was close.

[Mr.S]

The team boss hinted that both Mercedes could have gone faster still.

"We backed off once we saw that we weren't really under any threat because Lewis has got a penalty," Brawn said. "We wanted to try and save a set of tyres."

I find the above quote from Ross Brawn interesting. I wonder if its true or he's just playing mind games.

Mercedes probably hasn't run it's DDRS system to its maximum setting for fear that the FIA might reverse its ruling if they do run away from the rest of the field. The FIA wants to level the playing field, not to give any one team an unassailable advantage.

Another thing I want to add is how good the Mercedes W03 looked in sector 2. It looked so planted and great traction into and out of the corners. It shows what the W03 is capable of if it gets it's tyres to work properly.

I whole heartedly disagree with you on both accounts. Its a complete absurd thing to say.

THE FIA does not ban an invention if it provided more time. EBD & Qualifying maps provided 1.5-2 seconds. If anyone has an invention they will use it. The only reason qualifying with separate engine mapping was banned because it was very expesive. SO DDRS can only be banned if it VERY EXPENSIVE OR ILLEGAL & DDRS is not any of it.

I think it will be infinitely stupid,maybe even ludicrous retarded to have a great invention & not use it. And Brawn has said they are using an optimized DDRS. So no reason to speculate on this.

Other thing is Mercedes were the quickest on the straight during FP but in Qualy were 8-9 kms behind Sauber even with DDRS. Whitemarsh says only blowing a F-Wing can give you 6-8km,blowing both the Front Wing & Rear Wing in a huge straight in China will give you atleasr 10 odd km.

So Mercedes have sacrificed a huge chunk of straightline speed for downforce. Huge is probably an understatement. It is gigantic. They have bolted the car with downforce. I think this will help them in tyre management & in wet conditions. Again I dont think Mercedes' exhaust in the best. Sauber despire a poor Ferrari engine & no DDRS are top of the speed trap. This is because they have so much downforce that they could sacrifice some for straightline speed.

I hope they debut the Sauber or Mclaren exhaust at Mugello as they can surely find a tenth or 2 with that. I think their 5 star Sidepod design is covering up for their average exhaust.

Mechanically I am still somewhat worried. Hope Costa can help

[siskue2005]

Nico so fast today!! maybe totally different settings for Merc drivers to much gap between them.

BTW: on pole lap Nico use all KERS before long straight line.

I don't think it was setup.

Michael screwed his S3, over 0,4s deficit in Q3 there.

In the other sectors, he was close.

NR: “The track was was cooling off, the temperatures were coming down, so the rear tyres started working better. We changed setup before the last run and I did a perfect lap.”
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/04/r ... nen-shine/

[myurr]

Sky just showed a side by side comparison of their laps. Rosberg was able to brake 20m later than Schumacher into the penultimate corner, and the after the final corner Schumacher didn't activate DRS.