Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[Cocles]

It doesn't look like Schumacher quit by himself and Mercedes were forced to find another driver or that he was in the loop about Hamilton replacing him. I'm basing this on Schumacher's presence at the YDT

That's fine, but you should probably base your thoughts on what's actually being reported in the news. I even posted the links for you earlier. Here's one of them again:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102906

Here's the especially relevant part:

However, Mercedes bosses could not get a firm answer from Schumacher about his plans - and became concerned that a late-call by Schumacher to not continue could have left the team scrabbling around to try and find a top-line replacement at a time when the driver market would be closed off.

Sources suggest that it was Schumacher's indecision that prompted the initial call to push on with the Hamilton talks.

AUTOSPORT understands that Schumacher was aware of the negotiations between Hamilton and Mercedes - and accepted that if a deal was agreed it would leave him with no race seat there in 2013.

Be sure to read that last line.

It looks like the Merc team were forthright about this. The car could be a lot better, we can complain about that, but this Hamilton deal wasn't underhanded.

Either way, it'll at least be exciting seeing what the team and Schumacher can pull off over the next half dozen races. Perhaps we'll see a win as the car finally increases in speed.

[Dragonfly]

Japan will give some clues. I personally am on the opposite view. If the car suddenly becomes reliable and fast, it will raise a lot of questions. But conspiracy aside, I simply do not believe they are able to make a push forward.

[snoop1050]

maybe if merc werent faffing about with the concorde agreement schumacher might have already of signed?

i thought the 2 reasons he hadnt already signed were.

mercedes not yet signing upto f1 and he was waiting on the boards decision.
he wanted a 2 year contract and merc only wanted to offer a 1 year deal.

[clipsy1H]

maybe if merc werent faffing about with the concorde agreement schumacher might have already of signed?

i thought the 2 reasons he hadnt already signed were.

mercedes not yet signing upto f1 and he was waiting on the boards decision.
he wanted a 2 year contract and merc only wanted to offer a 1 year deal.

or he want to see if MErc can offer something good next year but push to much and AMG was forced to negotiate with other driver.

[Crucial_Xtreme]

I think Mercedes is going to be in contention in 2013 for wins & the Championships. They are(and have been) on the 2013 single seater for a while now and are devoting all tunnel time to the 2013 car in hopes of getting a jump start on the competition. Their new additions in 2012, Costa & Bell, will be involved with the car from the start and not mid-way through the season and will only help the team.
I think there's a good possibility Mercedes will be a serious contender in 2013. Just my opinion..

[snoop1050]

i remember when they had a half season headstart with the w02 so i dont share your enthusiasm.

now bernie is saying the 2014 engines probably wont happen
http://www.pitpass.com/47448-New-F1-eng ... Ecclestone

i wonder if bernie played schumacher to get hamilton into merc so he could get them to commit longterm to f1 so he could get rid of the engines and merc wouldnt leave =D>

hes not known as the poison dwarf for nothing

[Cocles]

They are(and have been) on the 2013 single seater for a while now and are devoting all tunnel time to the 2013 car in hopes of getting a jump start on the competition.

Interesting. Do you have a link to this? I'd like to read more.

[ElleMarie]

Now they have Hamilton who is the fastest man on the grid.

Thats a pretty serious fact that you are taking for granted.

[internetf1fan]

Hey guys, I am a new Merc fan, yes I go where Hamilton goes as I am a fan of a driver rather than a team. All the best to Merc this season and next!

[FoxHound]

Japan will give some clues. I personally am on the opposite view. If the car suddenly becomes reliable and fast, it will raise a lot of questions. But conspiracy aside, I simply do not believe they are able to make a push forward.

1.Micheal has enjoyed a reliable car since the team employed its cover man to check for any foul play.
2. The team ran a raft of update's at Singapore, which showed some promise.
3. The collective data of magny cours and Singapore will help make the car faster.
4. The updates being mooted for Japan seem to suggest Mercedes are onto a Mclaren like production line of updates, which tells me, they at least have some semblance of working order in place now as they did NOT have 18 months ago.

So if Schumacher is quicker, and Reliable, then there is precedent for this. What I'm hoping to see, is a step forward for Mercedes in relation to the competition. If this happens, we can(F1 fans, not MSC fans sadly) look forward to a 4 way shootout of the big guns. F1 needs 8-10 cars capable of winning(4-5 if you are number 1 conspirators).
I honestly feel Mercedes holds the key to a new chapter in F1, a chapter not dominated by them, but one that is more competitive because of their presence.

[FoxHound]

I think Mercedes is going to be in contention in 2013 for wins & the Championships. They are(and have been) on the 2013 single seater for a while now and are devoting all tunnel time to the 2013 car in hopes of getting a jump start on the competition. Their new additions in 2012, Costa & Bell, will be involved with the car from the start and not mid-way through the season and will only help the team.
I think there's a good possibility Mercedes will be a serious contender in 2013. Just my opinion..

I doubt it Crucial. Mercedes are still not there yet. They have shown supreme desire in their target though, no one can doubt that. As far as manufacturers go, you have to tip your cap in their general direction for the sheer audacity of going in for Hamilton.
They have invested in Brackley to the point we are now all talking of a different Brackley to that of 36 months ago. There are still however issues to be ironed out.
You mention they have been working on their 2013 machine now for sometime. Ok fair enough. But it cant have had much windtunnel time as this has only just recently been upgraded. Not only that, but it comes in the wake of a substantial W03 upgrade, which has taken up even more of this time.
My guess is Mercedes knew what they needed to do for 2013, and followed this. The issue I have with this however is that over the last 3 seasons, the previous iterations of car have all shown up some glaring flaw, mainly related to tyres.

This year they used the tyre excuse which was pure BS, it was a cover for the windtunnel upgrade...and a rather good one at that. I seriously hope the pattern changes, but to do this requires alot of effort, money, experience and yes, even luck.
One thing is certain, everyone is looking now.

[Raptor22]

Mercedes are lying.
or rather, they're using PR speak.

The saga of Hamilton signing for McLaren has been on going since before the summer break, in fact as far back as April already. Hamilton's reluctance to sign must have meant he was already in talks with Mercedes.

Ross Brawn talking about them needing to move on a signing before the market closed is utter hogwash. What would they lose?
Hamilton had not signed up with anyone and they were negotiating with Schumacher. As long as neither signed they had options.

No they wanted Hamilton and he was first choice. Schumacher played Brawn by delaying him. If they really wanted Schumacher as they claimed, they would have waited another week and Hamilton would have had no option but to sign with McLaren on their terms. This would have left Mclaren with one disgruntled driver which would be strategically good for Rosberg and Schumacher.

Mercedes wanted Hamilton. They did not want Schumacher since he is not part of the demographic that Mercedes wants to appeal too (I've posted about this many times in the past months).
Its all played out as I thought it would.

Will Schumacher drive for Peter Sauber? If he wants to continue, I think he will. If Ferrari is an option, I think he could driver there too. Why?
Both are relatively close to his residence. Closer than England. Both teams have a culture that he fits into, Brackley simply has no culture at all - unless you include moss. Hamilton will fit in here well. Schumacher never did fit.
Sauber is an established mid field team with a history of building great cars. They will win a GrandPrix if the rules remain stable.
Schumacher would bring in sponsorship and thats really all Sauber lacks.

If the 1.6L T engines get dropped as Bernie is hoping, then Sauber's position will be strong. It's Likely Renault will walk away from the current formula, its too restrictive and doesn't fit with their image. No other manufacturer will sign up unless the new formula is adopted anyway so F1 will remain a fairly level playing field. If Schumacher feels he still has it, he may fancy his chances in a Sauber.

What about Ferrari? He was pushed out by the count so I doubt the Count will take him back. F1 Politics is funny that way. Mostly, Alonso won't have him, no matter what.

[skgoa]

You mention they have been working on their 2013 machine now for sometime. Ok fair enough. But it cant have had much windtunnel time as this has only just recently been upgraded. Not only that, but it comes in the wake of a substantial W03 upgrade, which has taken up even more of this time.

I have no secret intel on what Merc is or isn't doing but I'ld like to point out that much of what they are getting onto the track right now can be carried over for next year. The technical regulations are staying almost exactly the same in anticipation of the huge 2014 change.

[FoxHound]

Mercedes are lying. or rather, they're using PR speak.

Why? Schuamcher wouldnt commit either way, what is the team to do? Wait until "der meister" has decided? It doesnt work like that my friend, this F1 not some Walter Mitty fantasy novel whereby the ageing driver gets to hold a gun to the teams head.

The saga of Hamilton signing for McLaren has been on going since before the summer break, in fact as far back as April already. Hamilton's reluctance to sign must have meant he was already in talks with Mercedes.

I can raise that. He was already speaking of driving for Mercedes in 2010. It doesnt take a genius to work out who powered him to all his titles in junior and senior series. In matter of Law, he was 40% Mercedes anyways, up until 2010.

As long as neither signed they had options.

Who's fault is that? As a team manager NOW IS THE TIME. You cannot wait until the last race and then decide with such big fish swimming about. Mercedes where forced by Schumacher who WOULD NOT commit. If you are non commital in a marriage of entites, it fails to continue to be a marriage. Mercedes kinda showed Schumi that, you do not hold the aces.

Brackley simply has no culture at all - unless you include moss. Hamilton will fit in here well.

Not a Hamilton fan then I take it? As for Brackley having no culture, could you care to explain your remarks please? I'm very interested to hear what the difference in culture is.

[FoxHound]

I have no secret intel on what Merc is or isn't doing but I'ld like to point out that much of what they are getting onto the track right now can be carried over for next year. The technical regulations are staying almost exactly the same in anticipation of the huge 2014 change.

Step noses and DDRS are banned. This means a rethink.