2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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maxxer
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Wonder Hamilton is leaving because they are sticking to same suspension?

selvam_e2002
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Chuckjr wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 08:37
Vettel should be completely removed from the discussion. You may as well hire Massa.

Now, the seemingly hasty action of Lewis leaving Merc to me points to a contract date of Jan 31 being a deadline. It’s clear this has been in discussion with Ferrari for some time. A decision like this takes months to come to and finalize. Toto seems to have had no idea and it’s announced over a 10 min meeting? There’s more here than meets the eye.

For Lewis this points to lack of confidence in the new chassis and team direction. He clearly feels he has as much of a chance at risking Ferrari as he does staying at Merc. But I dont think this is about championship hopes. Honestly. I think he knows nobody is beating RB before 2026. This likely is the last contract for Lewis so likely not as much confidence in Ferrari or Merc being able to deliver a faster car than RB, but more along the lines of living a childhood dream, and closing out with a Ferrari and Merc base of fans to draw on for years after retirement. It’s a business move, not a championship move.

Its about marketing and branding options, fan base depth, and trying to take home a few red trophies to finish the trophy wall. Not a championship. It crosses a lot of “t”’s and dots a lot of “i”’s for Lewis and this seems to outweigh the damage it’s going to foster this season. Lewis is sacrificing 2024 leaving like this. Merc will go full tilt King George. Full tilt and no apologies or F’s given.

Finally, isn’t it interesting when Rosberg left, Toto found out from a drop out of nowhere phone call? Same now with Lewis leaving. Why? Why are such accomplished drivers in such a prestigious team not taking the time to at least look Toto in the eye when announcing departure? Where’s the loyalty and respect? To me it points to some kind of disconnection between these drivers and the team leadership. After ten years Lewis leaves leaves Merc like this? I dunno. Seems abrupt and maybe a bit bitter? Maybe not. 🤷‍♂️
could be the package the Ferrari offers. Ham may be getting enormous money. that could be the only reason I believe.

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organic
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Wolff has addressed media. Some interesting quotes coming out.

Said he will not rule out "a bold choice" for successor. Suggests that speculation about Antonelli would only hurt his progression and he should focus on F2. Suggests that they will want to move in the market sooner rather than later and that it is "very interesting"
"If you had told me two days ago that Lewis would leave for Ferrari, I would not have believed it. But in Formula 1, situations can change quickly. This can be compared to the situation of Nico Rosberg, whose farewell was also very unexpected.”
We consciously chose last year to opt for a short-term commitment,” Wolff continues. “To give Lewis options, but also ourselves. During the Christmas period I had the feeling that we were completely attuned to each other. You should ask him why he changed his mind. For me it is completely understandable. He said he needed a new challenge and a different environment. And that this may be his last chance to do something different. I respect that and fully understand that he can change his mind and every driver dreams of driving for Ferrari
We’re big boys, we knew that by signing a short-term contract, it could be of benefit for both sides. We couldn’t commit for a longer period. And he’s taken the option to exit. So we totally respect that you can change your mind. There’s different circumstances. And switching to Ferrari, maybe for the last [move] in his career. Maybe rolling the dice a bit, I can follow that decision
"We will do everything we can to make it a successful season and compete against Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Although I am well aware that we do not have the best credentials.”
We will see what the best combination with George is and perhaps we will go for a very daring move. I promise you that we will achieve success again with Mercedes in the long term, winning races and titles. And we look back on an incredibly wonderful time with Lewis at Mercedes.”
Last edited by organic on 02 Feb 2024, 14:27, edited 1 time in total.

selvam_e2002
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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interesting. then I bet they have Alonso in their Radar. If they choose Alonso it is a counter to Hamilton move.

ThijsMuis
ThijsMuis
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Vanja #66 wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 13:59
ThijsMuis wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 13:06
I assume you wanted Wolff to know the future?
What I wanted? :lol: You lose your shining star and your biggest champion, and you can't be bothered to fly over from Europe to England to be present in person and share this with your team. To show strength and assure that everything will be good and incite new energy in your people... This way, you show that you either don't really care or you are too upset to face your team, can't say which is worse in this situation. Many people are looking at other teams' job openings after that, you can count on that.
Did you read the story?
Or my post? Would save doubling down on the negativity of blame Wolff for not being a fortune teller.

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chrisc90
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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f1jcw wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:03
chrisc90 wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 13:16
Problem also is, it’s easy for Lewis to say to his team, copy Max’s car and it’ll make me fast. It does t work like that, You need to know how the other team made that car fast and how it works in harmony.

A driver should have trust in his engineers and aero department to give him the fastest car they can possibly make.
But you are just using your own thoughts on Merc/Lewis and projecting them into this post.
You have no idea what Lewis said to his team, you have no idea what level of engineering Lewis has, you are just speculating to post something negative.
Didn’t Lewis publicly mention in interviews to copy the red bull?

You only have to have a quick search for that and you will see countless news articles for Hamilton urging Mercedes to copy RB design.
Not entirely sure which part you see as negative in that, but your welcome to your own opinion, just like I am/have.
Mess with the Bull - you get the horns.

stonehenge
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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The only way this move makes sense to me is if Ferrari offered him a boatload of money to support his projects long-term and Mercedes couldn't/didn't want to match it. There are already reports that this is indeed what Ferrari offered him and if it is true, then I see why Lewis wouldn't turn it down. He's always cared a lot about having a lasting impact after he leaves the sport and this gives him the backing of the largest brand in F1 (and sports cars in general) to do just that while driving for Ferrari for a couple of years with a chance to become immortal by winning a championship in red. I don't see a world where Lewis would turn all of that down *unless* Mercedes offered him something comparable, and it's easy to imagine that the board didn't want to.

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214270
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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FormulaUno reporting $100M a year, an ambassadorial commitment post-racing and contributions to his projects/charities. Apparently Daimler were not keen to maintain the association at HAMs asking price.
Last edited by 214270 on 02 Feb 2024, 15:02, edited 1 time in total.
Team ANTI-HYPE. Prove it, then I’ll anoint you.

Luscion
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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stonehenge wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:55
The only way this move makes sense to me is if Ferrari offered him a boatload of money to support his projects long-term and Mercedes couldn't/didn't want to match it. There are already reports that this is indeed what Ferrari offered him and if it is true, then I see why Lewis wouldn't turn it down. He's always cared a lot about having a lasting impact after he leaves the sport and this gives him the backing of the largest brand in F1 (and sports cars in general) to do just that while driving for Ferrari for a couple of years with a chance to become immortal by winning a championship in red. I don't see a world where Lewis would turn all of that down *unless* Mercedes offered him something comparable, and it's easy to imagine that the board didn't want to.
According to this, Merc didn't want to make Lewis an ambassador until 2035. Elkann also threw a ton of money at Lewis, $400 mil to his projects and have made him an ambassador for Ferrari


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Vanja #66
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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organic wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:07
- Toto has a long-standing business meeting in Milan that was already scheduled so must attend. Flies out of UK 31st.
- Meeting conducted with Toto attending virtually but Allison was there in person .
- meeting concluded in less than 15mins
I understand that it wasn't a field trip, but rather a business commitment. Whenever the meeting was scheduled, he could have had the announcement in Brackley scheduled to make it in person, he has the money for a private flight whenever he needs it. Or, alternatively, just ask for the meeting in Milan to be moved or made online somehow. All this did is show he doesn't prioritise the F1 team that he co-owns and leads. No matter what is publicly stated, inside the time this is by far the biggest crisis period since Mercedes took it over.

ThijsMuis wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:31
Did you read the story?
Or my post? Would save doubling down on the negativity of blame Wolff for not being a fortune teller.
Do you take it as a sign of person not reading something every time you don't agree with their point of view?
And they call it a stall. A STALL!

#DwarvesAreNaturalSprinters
#BlessYouLaddie

stonehenge
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Luscion wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 15:02
stonehenge wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:55
The only way this move makes sense to me is if Ferrari offered him a boatload of money to support his projects long-term and Mercedes couldn't/didn't want to match it. There are already reports that this is indeed what Ferrari offered him and if it is true, then I see why Lewis wouldn't turn it down. He's always cared a lot about having a lasting impact after he leaves the sport and this gives him the backing of the largest brand in F1 (and sports cars in general) to do just that while driving for Ferrari for a couple of years with a chance to become immortal by winning a championship in red. I don't see a world where Lewis would turn all of that down *unless* Mercedes offered him something comparable, and it's easy to imagine that the board didn't want to.
According to this, Merc didn't want to make Lewis an ambassador until 2035. Elkann also threw a ton of money at Lewis, $400 mil to his projects and have made him an ambassador for Ferrari



The sourcing for the specific numbers (400+ million) is a little dubious so I didn't want to quote it. But, as I was saying, some kind of agreement along those lines makes A LOT of sense to me.

ThijsMuis
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Vanja #66 wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 15:04
organic wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:07
- Toto has a long-standing business meeting in Milan that was already scheduled so must attend. Flies out of UK 31st.
- Meeting conducted with Toto attending virtually but Allison was there in person .
- meeting concluded in less than 15mins
I understand that it wasn't a field trip, but rather a business commitment. Whenever the meeting was scheduled, he could have had the announcement in Brackley scheduled to make it in person, he has the money for a private flight whenever he needs it. Or, alternatively, just ask for the meeting in Milan to be moved or made online somehow. All this did is show he doesn't prioritise the F1 team that he co-owns and leads. No matter what is publicly stated, inside the time this is by far the biggest crisis period since Mercedes took it over.

ThijsMuis wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:31
Did you read the story?
Or my post? Would save doubling down on the negativity of blame Wolff for not being a fortune teller.
Do you take it as a sign of person not reading something every time you don't agree with their point of view?
You've had the version of events and still insist on being negative with accusation of Wolff not caring can't be bothered too upset to face team yadda yadda negative bingo.

Bizarre for you to ignore the fact Wolff did not know until Hamiltons Manager hand delivered the letter. There was a meetingnscheduled and Hamilton wanted to say it face to face which was the plan.
Instead Wolff doesn't care because he couldn't predict the future. :lol:

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Juzh
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Any driver other than Verstappen will be a downgrade, so no matter what move they do they'll still be worse off. Its out of mercs hands now. On the other hand it'll stregthen ferrari imensly. I believe its gg for mercedes in the near-medium term.

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Vanja #66
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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ThijsMuis wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 15:16
Bizarre for you to ignore the fact Wolff did not know until Hamiltons Manager hand delivered the letter.
organic wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 14:07
Reality is this:

- Lewis seat fit on 31st Jan and whilst he's in UK they have annual get-together at Wolff's house in Oxford
- Lewis breaks news of Ferrari move out of the blue to Toto face to face at his house, with his management informing Merc team officially, simultaneously, in person at Brackley with a formal letter
- Toto has a long-standing business meeting in Milan that was already scheduled so must attend. Flies out of UK 31st.
- Meeting conducted with Toto attending virtually but Allison was there in person .
- meeting concluded in less than 15mins
Bizarre to accuse someone of not reading, while not reading yourself... I'll leave it at that. :)
And they call it a stall. A STALL!

#DwarvesAreNaturalSprinters
#BlessYouLaddie

ThijsMuis
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Re: 2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

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Juzh wrote:
02 Feb 2024, 15:18
Any driver other than Verstappen will be a downgrade, so no matter what move they do they'll still be worse off. Its out of mercs hands now. On the other hand it'll stregthen ferrari imensly. I believe its gg for mercedes in the near-medium term.
It was inevitable at some stage but aside from all negativity which is usual for this thread, I think it suits Hamilton and it suits mercedes.
Maybe we can see Antonelli next year hopefully.