Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[kenny5]

I think that the DDRS is overdiscussed and overrated since it has not given them a clear advantage yet, as many of us belived and I think that for other teams it wouldn't be a good investment unless they find a way to do a better version of it.

W03 is the best car -by some margin...
But this years frmula is severely tyre limited
meaning that driver and technology advantages are neutralised.

the first team to truely conquer these tyres will win the champinship,
but i dont see that happening in the next 10 races.

[MercAMGF1Fans]

Agree with Kenny.. as you can see from this article on ESPN-F1 Bob Bell explains the exact Nature of the Stupid Lottery Tyres.

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/stor ... CMP=chrome

"If you have a very small operating band, a very small target, the people that have to try and hit that sweet spot are facing a very difficult job in order to do so," Bell adds. "Clearly that means you can have very good consistency [from the tyre], but if that consistency produces a small window then it means the user of the tyres has a slightly tougher time.

and further on..

"We're fighting on several fronts. We're fighting on wear because you need the tyres to last a certain time and we're fighting on degradation to make sure they deliver the grip over the period of that life. Managing both of those is the tricky balancing act for these tyres. That's why we're seeing variability in grids and race positions this year."

[munudeges]

Talk about pace all you want, but the simple arithmetic is that he's behind.

[munudeges]

Indeed, kremlinish press-relases like that, "medical condition", typically means something completely different.

Especially when the head of Mercedes was there that weekend.

[xpensive]

Indeed, kremlinish press-relases like that, "medical condition", typically means something completely different.

Especially when the head of Mercedes was there that weekend.

In that case, I would have had to be seriously ill not to be there if I was RB?

[marcush.]

as for Schumis speed -you guys have short memory methinks.Schu was clearly and without any doubt the quicker driver at the first two weekends and yes Rosberg had the balance redressed recently.
But it´s not decided yet .
As for Brawn missing the race and Zetsche appearance.Coincidence ,who knows.I have to admit we have rarely been given such detailed information technically as this weekend with Bell elaborating about the tyre riddle.
I´m pretty sure Brawn will not be around for much longer maybe it´s just he wants to see Michael win again and leave the team in potential Championship winning form maybe with Vettel as a new No1 signing....you never know.
I don´t think he is already gone .

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

"Brawn stays home due to Doctor's advice" read a few stories. Well, whats to say they weren't Dr. Zetsche's orders?

Seriously though, Brawn is a smoker....I recall seeing him fag in hand in a couple of pictures(could be wrong). A man knocking on 60, smoking, with a stressful position, staying at home for a few days isn't too hard to believe.

The timing was a bit too perfect mind. What's to say that one of Bernard's prerequisites of Mercedes-Benz signing on until 2020, was that RB stays away while "formalities" are tied up? Flexing his power to let people know who's still the boss...
Plausible I reckon.

[xpensive]

I would rather believe that RB was advised to stay away as Zetsche with his entourage was there and didn't care to meet with him. After buying what he believed was a state-of-the-art top-team, Zetsche has found out the hard way it was an extreme makeover project, why you can't blame the man for being a tad pissed off?

[bhall]

By that rationale, wouldn't Norbert Haug be within the crosshairs more than anyone else? (And not just because he's a rather "substantial" man, either.)

I tend to think Dr. Z is probably elated with any acquisition not named Chrysler.

[marcush.]

maybe things go down with zetsche differently as it is not his own money that went down the drain ..globally speaking the loss is barely visible...I´d think thy made losses far more significant elsewhere

[xpensive]

I don't think the money in itself is the major issue here, my xperience with people of Zetsche's kind is that they usually dislike the feeling of being suckered, profoundly so.

As for whom to focus that frustration on? Norbert Haug is a confrere since way back, a German at that, while Ross Brawn is neither.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

I think the way Zetsche has positioned this team in marketing terms has justified its position for Mercedes to continue investing.
Out of pocket 80 million a year to Mclaren or the same to AMG, a Merc subsidiary? A no brainer of course. Very astute on his behalf there.

As he fronts the main arm of investment, wouldn't it proper for him to negotiate deals anyway? I would have thought so. I've no access to the numbers(official), but Mercedes-Benz is forging ahead on new strategies globally. The numbers are stacking up for Zetsche to be able to justify another 7-8 years of Mercedes involvement, particularly how the team dovetails with AMG's sporting background, and how AMG has performed over the last 2-3 years with it's own bespoke model line up.

Will Brawn be there in 8 years time? I have my reservations. By the looks of it, Mercedes will still be. Hence why I feel Stuttgart is controlling the political side of things, a softly softly approach compared to Brawns hammer method.

[zyphro]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99668

The team are confident.

[zyphro]

I would rather believe that RB was advised to stay away as Zetsche with his entourage was there and didn't care to meet with him. After buying what he believed was a state-of-the-art top-team, Zetsche has found out the hard way it was an extreme makeover project, why you can't blame the man for being a tad pissed off?

Lol, they won a race this season. Zetsche isn't exactly going to be majorly pissed off.

[marcush.]

I´d say the current situation devalues any achievement technically or as a team.If randomly also rans produce the brilliant one off result ,how can the guy who signs the cheques be happy with one podium in so many races...?

Yes a win is a win but this year anyone and his dog can do it it seems .As soon as we see a Marussia or HRT in the points nobody can be happy anymore (apart from Marussia of course).
People will soon realise this all is hugely counter productive for the teams as development work and engineering is rendered obsolete .