Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 2014

[Pierce89]

From what I've heard, Bell was QC.

I thought the official f1t conclusion was that Bob Bell was in charge of power unit integration. If so, he did quite the job.

[thomin]

From what I've heard, Bell was QC.

I thought the official f1t conclusion was that Bob Bell was in charge of power unit integration. If so, he did quite the job.

In a recent AMuS article, it was said that Willis was responsible for that. Either way, definitely quite a job done.

[MercedesAMGSpy]

Bob Bell was director of the engine devision indeed. Geoff Willis and Aldo Costa are the designers of the car.

[Skippon]

No - Bob Bell was employed by MGP at Brackley.
He was never part of HPP at Brixworth - let alone a director of.....

[FoxHound]

No - Bob Bell was employed by MGP at Brackley.
He was never part of HPP at Brixworth - let alone a director of.....

Precisely correct. There is no definitive answer as to his exact role, which varied over his time with Mercedes.
Engine integration was one of his contributions, but he had a hand in Quality Control in some departments. Nothing I can prove, just hearsay from some locals in Brackley.

[gray41]

Lewis' black cap now the same as the green one he used in Malaysia and China with LH logo on the back and Puma on the peak.

[otbsti]

Since we don't have a silly season thread for 2015 here's the rumor that's going bonkers on the Autosport forum. Apparently this was the guy who leaked the Boullier to McLaren deal first. He says Alonso to Mercedes in the next few days from a source very close to Alonso. Thoughts??

https://twitter.com/MonsieurF1/status/4 ... 5995991040

[Phil]

Interesting. Rosberg's contract is ending end of this year, so one could assume he's not entitled to an extension more so than any other driver could bargain for the seat. Though if you already have a "winning formula" and two happy drivers - I can't quite imagine why you would want to change that. Then there is also the "German link" - which always had me believe that Rosbergs place in the team was more secure than Lewis's. Given Rosberg high quality driving (I don't think one could expect more than what both he and Lewis are delieving), I simply can't see what Alonso - no matter how good he is - could bring to the team. At what benefit?

Commercially? Better PR?

As exciting as this would be - I don't see this happening. Not unless Nico has an epic fall out with the team.

[SiLo]

Ironically I think Alonso + Hamilton would be a great team now, they have a lot of respect for each other and I think they would be good together.

[otbsti]

For what it's worth, Alonso would bring more commercially to the team with Santander... I'm sure Mercedes would be content with dishing out less of their own money to the cause. I think they would be a solid team, and better teammates now than their first go around lol

[Shakeman]

Are Merc in danger of getting ahead of themselves if this rumour is true?

Nico seems to be an excellent team mate to Hamilton. Alonso could balls things up.

[mclaren_mircea]

No, can't be true. Finally it would be an all 2007 again. With all the respect to Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso are both slightly better than Vettel. Next year, having the best engine, best car, best 2 drivers, it would be total war at Mercedes in the second half of the 2015 season. Mercedes have an unique partnership between Hamilton and Rosberg. First, it exists some sort of real friendship between them since their junior career (remember Lewis embracing Nico in Australia 2008, one at Mclaren, one at Williams), not just respect like is in between Kimi and Alonso. Second, Lewis is better than Nico, but Nico too is quite a top-quality driver, not uncompetitive like Kovalainen and slighty faster than Button. If I were Wolff or Lowe, I would never change such a great chemistry like they have in the second quality pair drivers on the grid (on paper Kimi and Alonso are stronger, but there is not the relation like between Lewis and Nico). Third, I really can't see Mercedes firing Rosberg.
It may just be a false rumour.

[myurr]

That may be, but it would be a huge coup for Mercedes and would pull one over Ferrari. Imagine the PR - even Alonso is ditching Ferrari for the chance to drive a Mercedes hybrid.

[smlbstcbr]

No, God, please, NO! Alonso + Hamilton can only end up in tears. In another theme, wasn't Bob Bell around the team pits today?

[MercedesAMG]

In another theme, wasn't Bob Bell around the team pits today?

Wex, of course. I've seen him, too.