Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[SeijaKessen]

Dr Z has been far too patient (actually amazing how he's given so much trust in Brawn for three years). There needs to be an aggressive plan put in place now, else, MSC and ROS may as well just walk to a team that can at least deliver a solid and consistent performer: i.e Sauber and Williams.

I really do hope they have massive updates for Spa. It pains me to watch ROS and MSC trundle around fighting in midfield - they've proven already they're far better than that, they deserve A LOT more.

The question is, if he opts to not resign with MGP, would any team actually want Schumacher at this point?

Most of the decent teams already have their first and second seats filled.

The only potential open seats for 2013 I know of are Massa's seat at Ferrari, and Senna's seat at Williams. Massa definitely will not be back. Even though nothing has been said from Williams regarding Senna's seat, most are leaning towards Bottas having the seat. There is always the possibility things may not work out that way.

Teams like Caterham, Marussia, and HRT would not be places he would go.

It really only leaves the 2nd seat at Ferrari open.

[diego1960]

It's really sad to see MSC waste the last years of his great career racing for those amateurs. I am definately sure he won't bother to sign an extension on his contract as there seemingly is no improvement of the team, and he will choose retirement over another 1-2 seasons of strolling in the midfield battling for low points with the likes of Vergne and Maldonado.

In regards to that, I just read an Interview today in german media, I think it was with Norbie, he said that Schumacher is not even thinking of renewing his contract just now, of course with a lot of PR blabla like that they will give him time as long as he needs and that the will respect his decision blabla etc.

He would be stupid to sign right now I think, no signed concorde, slower performance every weekend, no progress whatsoever, 5th(!) in WCC, no reliability when in matters and so on.
I think he will wait until the last race to see if he gets an offer from Lotus, Ferrari or even Sauber I think that would be the better option.

Great, so its 90% sure that next year (if the Merc circus is still in town), MSC won't be there...I'm really really astonished of how they managed to fail so much as an entity. Books will be written about this failed attempt, and how to avoid chasing your tail around like Merc and wasting the talents of a 7-times World Champion. Way to go...We deserve nothing more than Maldonado or Vitaly.

I really really want MSC to stay for 2 more years if he'd like too but not under these circumstances. He deserves better than this. I dont want him to retire, I think he would find it hard to have peace of mind if we leaves on such a low point. I wish Sauber had a free slot, or McLaren but then there would not be room for Hamilton. Maybe Lotus if Kimi moves? In any case i feel that MSC still has plenty to offer and could very well deliver wins and regular podiums if the car is right. All I (actually we) are asking is that Merc get their act together, this is a PR disaster so far...

[zyphro]

Dr Z has been far too patient (actually amazing how he's given so much trust in Brawn for three years). There needs to be an aggressive plan put in place now, else, MSC and ROS may as well just walk to a team that can at least deliver a solid and consistent performer: i.e Sauber and Williams.

I really do hope they have massive updates for Spa. It pains me to watch ROS and MSC trundle around fighting in midfield - they've proven already they're far better than that, they deserve A LOT more.

The question is, if he opts to not resign with MGP, would any team actually want Schumacher at this point?

Most of the decent teams already have their first and second seats filled.

The only potential open seats for 2013 I know of are Massa's seat at Ferrari, and Senna's seat at Williams. Massa definitely will not be back. Even though nothing has been said from Williams regarding Senna's seat, most are leaning towards Bottas having the seat. There is always the possibility things may not work out that way.

Teams like Caterham, Marussia, and HRT would not be places he would go.

It really only leaves the 2nd seat at Ferrari open.

True.

[zyphro]

I think he would find it hard to have peace of mind if we leaves on such a low point.

This is why he won't retire.

[marcush.]

Intriguingly the german media reports that Schumacher was to blame for switching off the car - as this was normal proceedure before 2006 ..but international media says he switched off due to high temperatures.. what´s going on there`?
Also ..is Nobody in the team aware of where the car is in the grid?
It´s simply not possible for the driver to know actually where to stop really .you just follow the others and stop where you find a gridslot in your row.
I did not see the race ..thankfully but it seems rather odd to leave this big gap .? It speaks volumes about how concentrated people around Michael are and it speaks volumes about his own motivation as well....

[marcush.]

Schumachers family is not happy with his decision to drive formula 1 again so even if his last retirement as a driver was sort of forced on him by circumstances-They had signed Raikkonen and Schumacher carrying on would have robbed Massa of his deserved seat at Ferrari ....this time I don´t think he would sign for anybody else.Remember -this was his own ambition turning full circle-he started out his career with Mercedes and was helped into F1 with dimler money and support -he should have been Sauber driver but it did not happen really because he was just too successful already when sauber joined in and merc was not really officially behind the project.Now it all looked like things coming full circle and shame on Norby and Brawn to misuse this burning ambition in the man.
Nevertheless I feel Schumacher really has redressed the balance in terms of how he is seen in the world as a man a personality and fair and honest sportsman .he still is a hard tough racer but he is no longer seen as a cheater or someone who is preferred in any ways.
I just feel it´s disgusting to see his talents wasted with this team that is just not up to what is needed to bag a championship and potentially will never be ...those three years are basically wasted in terms of results.

[Morteza]

Intriguingly the german media reports that Schumacher was to blame for switching off the car - as this was normal proceedure before 2006 ..but international media says he switched off due to high temperatures.. what´s going on there`?
Also ..is Nobody in the team aware of where the car is in the grid?
It´s simply not possible for the driver to know actually where to stop really .you just follow the others and stop where you find a gridslot in your row.
I did not see the race ..thankfully but it seems rather odd to leave this big gap .? It speaks volumes about how concentrated people around Michael are and it speaks volumes about his own motivation as well....

There is something very very wrong with this team. Schumacher has had another DNF AGAIN.
Who are we kidding, really? This is a team that had the luck to have a dominant car for the first half of 2009. They were going backwards since then...

[zyphro]

The 5 weeks break-away from F1 couldn't have come at a better time for Merc.

[Morteza]

The 5 weeks break-away from F1 couldn't have come at a better time for Merc.

What would have happened if it has been the last race of the season? It has kept me wondering if we would see the face of Mercedes in F1 ever again...

[SeijaKessen]

The 5 weeks break-away from F1 couldn't have come at a better time for Merc.

I'm not so sure about that...

The first race back is at Spa, and I don't think the W03 is going to be well-suited for that circuit...

...unless they manage to find a few upgrades between now and then.

[bhall]

[...]

...unless they manage to find a few upgrades between now and then.

This season could really use some espionage. For flavor.

[SeijaKessen]

[...]

...unless they manage to find a few upgrades between now and then.

This season could really use some espionage. For flavor.

MGP should contact Nigel Stepney for a "consulting" position...

[zyphro]

The 5 weeks break-away from F1 couldn't have come at a better time for Merc.

I'm not so sure about that...

The first race back is at Spa, and I don't think the W03 is going to be well-suited for that circuit...

...unless they manage to find a few upgrades between now and then.

Well, a 5 week break or another race in 2 weeks? I know which I'd prefer. They need time to reflect on the (disastrous) situation they've found themselves in.

[JACKSONVILLE]

I love this forum, I have finaly signed up as I'm so disgusted with the mercs sorry that is a disgrace, 3 years and absolutely nothing, nothing wow : . It's so bad as Mercedes have a budget to compete with any team and what makes it worst and a embarrassment to Ross Brawn is that the Lotus team have half the budget the mercs have and look at what they have been able to achieve, but lets not forget this team was called Renault before so they already had great innovators exactly what Mercedes our lacking.

Personally I think they need a clear out in terms of those guys from Honda days sorry just not good enough. Most of those guys where used to just building a car for midfield and challenging for 7th at best. This is Mercedes and quite frankly they have produced utter CRAP for 3 years, 3 years!!!!!!!. That is unacceptable, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall the day they convinced Schumi to come out of retirement to hear what they said to convince him in terms of challenging the front runners and winning races. Did they set a time table i.e 2 -4 years to be winning, because schumi seems to still believe in this team.

I'm also shocked by the schumi haters that say his old he should retire and give his seat up to a younger driver, which i find laughable to be honest this man is a legend his actually drove well this season, but unfortunately due to awful reliability issues with his car his had to retire in 6 races and those are alot of points lost. The team needs to bring those updates quick to save some creditability.

[JACKSONVILLE]

What makes me even more angry was the nonsense of mercedes not offering Schumi a new contract this team would be so ungrateful if they don't renew his contract. I personally believe he should stay for atleast one more season as next years car i.e the W04 will be designed by Aldo Costa so lets see.