Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 2014

[dans79]

I don't think they can or will do anything.

They could do just about anything they want as long as they still pay him. The harder question is what can they do without taking a PR hit. They have to do something though, because they are getting a lot of really bad PR today.

[ScottB]

I don't think they can or will do anything. Right now Rosberg is there best chance for a drivers championship. Their not going to stop him from scoring big points for the team. The only thing they can hope for is that Hamilton can even it out a bit. They have said they may consider team orders, but I doubt either driver would listen.

A Mercedes will win the driver's championship, there's no danger of anything else, unless they take each other out in every remaining race.

Reading between the lines, the clear anger of Wolff in particular, and Hamilton talking about how angry Nico still was after 3 weeks, I suspect that they had been told, in no uncertain terms, to make sure that they played nice. Presumably this is 'the point' that Rosberg wanted to make; if Hamilton can 'ignore' team orders, then so can he, so he launched a risky move that was unlikely to come off.

At least that's how I see it. It says it all about their respective 'luck' so far this season that Nico carried on largely unscathed while Lewis' race was torpedoed.


As to what happens now, well it's clear that the team are hugely angry with him. Lewis has been, for me, much smarter than I would have expected, he has been calm, measured, and will no doubt be rallying support behind him in doing so. Far removed from his impulsive, stupid reactions of the past. Nico stomping his feet, criticising the British fans etc will only serve to make someone who doesn't seem to be all that popular with the sports wider following even less so. In fact, a Hamilton comeback to take the title from an unloved teammate who will now possibly be vilified as a poor sport / cheater will make an interesting PR story for the company to sell...

I can't see any direct punishment, but the team will, quite possibly, lean towards favouring Lewis. That could be vital, and with Lewis' personality; he seems to thrive when he feels like he's wanted and supported, that could make all the difference.

[Hail22]

Nico Rosberg has apparently claimed in the Mercedes meeting last night that the incident between himself and Hamilton was intentional:

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/ ... .html#poll

You can bet that Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche has requested a "please explain?" from Toto Wolff and other non-executives who were present at the meeting. Watch this space as Daimler are the type who will protect their branding at all costs. (Not a Merc / Hamilton fan just an fyi).

An exerpt from the article:

A visibly emotional Hamilton said: "We just had a meeting about it, and he basically said he did it on purpose. He said he did it on purpose and he said he could have avoided it.

"He said he did it to prove a point. You don't have to just rely on me, go and ask Toto and Paddy [Lowe, the Mercedes technical director] who are not happy with him as well. When you're out there you have to trust people not to do things deliberately, but after that meeting I don't really know how to approach the next race.

[Phillyred]

If it truly was intentional and ROS uttered those words to that affect then can't the FIA get involved since he deliberately made contact? I mean a few inches this way or that way could have caused a tragedy.

[CHT]

I just watch the race, its pretty obvious that LH doesnt have the car he need to win this race and if LH would have been sensible enough, he would have avoided the incident by not insisting on sticking to the racing line when Nico is right next to him. Perhaps LH should understand that its the World Cup of motorsports he is fighting and he should perhaps understand the importance of defensive driving to protect himself instead of relying on the team radio button.

[FW17]

I think it will be a good idea for a ban on Hamilton quoting or talking about discussions from team internal meets.

[spadeflush]

Toto Wolff denied that Rosberg deliberately crashed into Hamilton. He was trying to make a point (Bahrain?) but Hamilton's gone out in the media stating a probably exaggerated account of what happened in the meeting. Having said that, I have lost some respect for Nico for how he has handled the situation. Tough days ahead for Mercedes.

[seinfeld]

the fairest thing to do would be to take Nico out of the Italian GP . and allow Lewis the chance to win the race and recover the points loss he got. they have already won the championship. Unless riciardio keeps winning. I see Nico and Lewis too far out in front.

That would be the fairest thing to do. Take Nico out for 1 race

[FW17]

With all the mourning from LH to stop the car from lap 20, I would have thought he would have asked the team to arrange a press conference too among other things.

[prince]

Here is the start of 2014 Canadian GP and watch it at 0:15. Pause and watch. Clearly, a similar situation, but Lewis avoids going for an overtake, backs off and runs wide, exactly what Sebastian did on first lap yesterday. In here, unlike Lewis in Belgium, Nico is more aggressive to push Lewis out of the line.

[Kiril Varbanov]

Toto Wolff denied that Rosberg deliberately crashed into Hamilton. He was trying to make a point (Bahrain?) but Hamilton's gone out in the media stating a probably exaggerated account of what happened in the meeting. Having said that, I have lost some respect for Nico for how he has handled the situation. Tough days ahead for Mercedes.

I just posted absolutely similar comment on another popular F1 site. I feel bad for Hamilton - he was absolutely on the verge of winning Spa.
Bottom line: I have lost some respect for Rosberg, also having in mind Monaco parking. I understand no nice guys have ever won the WDC, but that doesn't mean I embrace the way it was achieved. Stupid stuff, Nico.

[FW17]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbMykbSfKPY

Here is the start of 2014 Canadian GP and watch it at 0:15. Pause and watch. Clearly, a similar situation, but Lewis avoids going for an overtake, backs off and runs wide, exactly what Sebastian did on first lap yesterday. In here, unlike Lewis in Belgium, Nico is more aggressive to push Lewis out of the line.

Did you see the last lap of Hungary? I did not understand what toto said that it is ok to take a car out on the last lap but not so in the second.................

[CriXus]

Toto Wolff denied that Rosberg deliberately crashed into Hamilton. He was trying to make a point (Bahrain?) but Hamilton's gone out in the media stating a probably exaggerated account of what happened in the meeting. Having said that, I have lost some respect for Nico for how he has handled the situation. Tough days ahead for Mercedes.

I just posted absolutely similar comment on another popular F1 site. I feel bad for Hamilton - he was absolutely on the verge of winning Spa.
Bottom line: I have lost some respect for Rosberg, also having in mind Monaco parking. I understand no nice guys have ever won the WDC, but that doesn't mean I embrace the way it was achieved. Stupid stuff, Nico.

So, you are OK with Hamilton blocking Nico in Bahrain (Nico avoid the contact) and Hamilton literally pushed out of the track in Hungary on the last lap (Nico avoid the contact again)?

[prince]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbMykbSfKPY

Here is the start of 2014 Canadian GP and watch it at 0:15. Pause and watch. Clearly, a similar situation, but Lewis avoids going for an overtake, backs off and runs wide, exactly what Sebastian did on first lap yesterday. In here, unlike Lewis in Belgium, Nico is more aggressive to push Lewis out of the line.

Did you see the last lap of Hungary? I did not understand what toto said that it is ok to take a car out on the last lap but not so in the second.................

I have, not just Hungary but also Bahrain. My point here is, when the opportunity to overtake bleaks out, the norm is, you back off and wait for another chance and not leave your car to screw up or get screwed up. For ages, the driver in front shuts the door on the chasing guy and it has always been a racing method to back off and go for it again and that is normal racing. In exceptional scenarios, you still go for it like Vettel did on Alonso in Monza, despite going off track go for the move. But even then, he didn't drive into Alonso and neither did Alonso.

On another note, not sure how many people watched it. Martin Brundle gave really nice information, which he gathered from Pirelli. When the tyre gets touched on the top of the side wall, only then they get punctured, like what happened to Lewis. If they get hit on anywhere below the top of sidewall or on the entire back area (like Alonso hit Vettel), the tyres don't get punctured.

[iotar__]

I think it will be a good idea for a ban on Hamilton quoting or talking about discussions from team internal meets.

Leaving biggest storm in a tea cup incident aside and unwarranted drama around it, especially making one driver some sort of a villain this angle is interesting:
1. These weren't exactly quotes but selective information (+interpretation turned into headlines) from one side. It's not that I don't trust LH but for the full picture where can I find a full transcript of Mercedes' debrief, is is on lewishamilton.com ? I'd love to see one one after and before Hungary, Bahrain and Barcelona for a comparison,
2. In terms of lack of the reaction from Wolff except for usual running to media and cleaning after. I wonder if they are fine with selective publicizing inner team talks for private reasons. Hamilton's media games are a constant theme this season and it's a surprise Merc is not willing to deal with it. Especially after "Rosberg is not really German" (in a German team before German GP) type of comments. Trying to turn this into a joke won't work this time.