Following the signature of the commercial agreement with FOM this week by Mercedes-Benz, the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton has signed a three-year agreement to race for the team from the 2013 Formula One season.
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Red Schneider wrote:Part of the decision must have been that, in Hamilton's life, McLaren has only been a winning team for two periods: first in 1998-1999, and then 2007-2008. (I generously include 2007 because they had tons of pace that year.)
In other words, Hamilton has lots of experience watching (and competing for) McLaren when they don't win, and the truth is that they really haven't won that often in the last 20 years, in terms of championships. There must be at least a certain sense of exasperation on the driver's side. From his perspective, what is the point in coming in second or third in the next few championships with McLaren? There is no value in that, and historically that is the best they can provide. It's win or nothing, as surely his hero Senna would attest.
McLaren is a consistent podium finisher but never a champion. If you divide the probability at each team into 'winning the title' and 'finishing in any other place from second on down,' then at Mercedes, Hamilton must surely feel he has an equal or better chance to win the title.
Nando wrote:
Today he is a Mclaren driver, and for the next 6 races he will still be a Mclaren driver so obviously they are gonna push to win this one, it´s a win/win situation.
McLaren has said they are perfectly happy with Button taking points away from Hamilton.
If you insist on commenting can you at least back up your insinuations with facts.
Martin Whitemarsh hinted at something else very different in Singapore.
phillippe wrote:.. Hamilton's leanings are indeed towards a higher salary, more freedom for personal advertising, the satisfaction of having his picture next to Mercedes'...
I think Hamilton's move is motivated by the desire to be the best of his generation. Alonso's view is that only Hamilton can win in a poor car, and that has been his challenge at McLaren a number of times. Whilst McLaren's mission statement is to win GP's, Hamilton wants to win WDC's and McLaren have not been able to capture the consistency of 07/08 to take him towards the multiple WDC holy grail.
Nando wrote:
Today he is a Mclaren driver, and for the next 6 races he will still be a Mclaren driver so obviously they are gonna push to win this one, it´s a win/win situation.
McLaren has said they are perfectly happy with Button taking points away from Hamilton.
they also said Button came to them and said he would play second fiddle to Hamilton because he realized he was out of contention.
Singapore GP post-race.
What is your source?
"Il Phenomeno" - The one they fear the most!
"2% of the world's population own 50% of the world's wealth."
fausto cedros wrote:i have got a question for every friend in the forum:
What has been in your opinion the weight, if any, of singapore race outcome on Hamilton decision?
It might well have been the straw that broke the donkey's back.
I think that race sums up McLaren, always there or there abouts but contrive to bin it for themselves in one way or another.
My take is that XIX had far more of an influence than anything else. I'd bet that Hamilton told them which teams he'd be willing to race for and then let them negotiate the best deal.
I think the most one could say is that the McLaren/Hamilton relationship had deteriorated to the point that he no longer felt any particular loyalty to them.
I'm ecstatic. This news just made my day. Hamilton for 2013....Yes please. =D>
Schumacher's time with Mercedes is over. He honored his contract. He had three years to prove himself and he didn't accomplish much of anything. There was no chance of him signing a new contract. If he really wants to drive in F1, he needs to start shopping around the paddock.
Despite being, on paper, a terrible idea for Hamilton to leave the resources of Mclaren, it was a long time coming.
Hamilton has been grumbling about this and that, acting out, bogged by success - if you will, and has had constant complaints about his 2008 win as a one-time fluke.
Hamilton to Mercedes is probably his chance to make an entire team into his image, so to speak. The best thing that could happen is that he takes all of his experience to mold the team into a lean, mean, World Championship-winning machine. The worst thing that could happen with this move is that Hamilton brings all of his baggage, dumps it on the team when he doesn't win (the car may still be good, but he doesn't win), and proves that he is, deep down, just a brat.
It is my sincere hope that it is the former. I'd love to see a four/five way battle at the top.
As for Perez, it is my hope that there is a lot of speed that can be unlocked and controlled. So far he's been driving the Sauber well and, on occasion, putting it on the podium. He's also a likeable person, so, combined with Button's affability, may create a very warm and fostering environment at Mclaren.
Overall, this will be bad for McLaren and uncertain for Lewis.
It will be bad for McLaren because Perez is from what I saw until now is no Hamilton. Also, was he really the best option in this case? although, I find him descent Raikonnen may have been a better option.
I can understand Lewis. Last years, especial start of this and Alonso years were really really frustrating for him. Mclaren almost looked like an amateur team. Moreover they make allegedly 30% pay cut. Please.... They misread the situation and didn't think Lewis can move to another team.
I think that is the extend of it, really. If anyone to blame (not necessarily there is anything wrong in here) it is Mclaren.
I'm ecstatic. 
This news just made my day. Hamilton for 2013....Yes please. =D> 
