Mercedes AMG F1 Team 2012

[FoxHound]

@Marcush

You criticise the team. And you say you work in motorsport.

Well it is very clear they have given up on 2012, from as early as the last big exhaust upgrade we saw that didnt work.
Now, they are clearly focussed on 2013 running back to back comparisons to see where they benefit and where they don't....first hand...not on a sim. Who cares about 2012 now, you have been saying for 10 races now that Sauber will catch Mercedes and they still sit 12 points behind.

Mercedes have not scored a point in 5 races. So if Sauber are that much better, why havent they succeeded Mercedes?

Next year will give us an indication of whether the decisions, and acquisitions where all worthwhile.

[Vasconia]

Oh my God....

What an awful performance yet again, slow and difficult to drive, at least there was no strategy confusion as usual. It is a mystery how they always achieve to be in a worse position than the race before, race after race. Awful, I can't stand the thought that Mercedes' name and MSC's last races are thrown away because of the incompetence of the Brackley squad to build a decent F1 car.

Disheartening result, Brazil's final lap can't come soon enough.

+1!!

The race was so embarrasing for him!! poor Michael, he doesnt deserve this, on saturday he showed once again that he can delivers, but this was the worst first stint I have seen in my whole life.

No points for the team, no good signs about the evolutions, they are totally lost. What a joke of a team!!

I pray for wet race, the only chance to see Michael doing something good, if not, I will switch off the TV I dont want to see him in that way...

[clipsy1H]

i watch BBC highlights and finally Michael calls "disaster" i really don't know what happen with them after Monza because there and especially at SPA car was good (with a nice strategy Michael can reach a podium in Belgium)
Maybe in Brazil with rain they will score some points

[raymondu999]

It's so sad that Michael Schumacher has to bow out this way

[alvinkhorfire]

Then, Michael Schumacher does not have to do so. Maybe, Schumacher will announce that he is taking the second race seat in Sauber and will still be racing in F1 next year. [-o< Yes, it is the wildest dream I have. However, Schumacher still has unfinished business in his comeback, and really needs a championship-winning car to justify his unwavering determination and awesome racing skills.

[Nando]

I think the only guys that are sad about this are Schumi fans.
To tell you the truth i doubt Schumi is sad/upset/angry about the situation.

Just like everyone has to die sometime, same with F1.
Regardless of results you have to make room for younger guys to take the stage.

His Mercedes days from my point of view was his best ever years in F1.
Never seen Schumi this happy, this open, this normal and relaxed like he is now.
And he still got it the old man.. whooped some ass at Monaco and a legitimate pole in my book.

[raymondu999]

Just like everyone has to die sometime, same with F1.
Regardless of results you have to make room for younger guys to take the stage.

Some of us are sentimental creatures. Leave us alone

I just wish that "how the mighty have fallen" didn't have to apply here.

[Vasconia]

Then, Michael Schumacher does not have to do so. Maybe, Schumacher will announce that he is taking the second race seat in Sauber and will still be racing in F1 next year. [-o< Yes, it is the wildest dream I have. However, Schumacher still has unfinished business in his comeback, and really needs a championship-winning car to justify his unwavering determination and awesome racing skills.

This is too much, dream with a victory in Brazil is enough for me hehehe. He deserves a good ending, if not a victory a podium.

My godness, to read the newspapers/forums/etc in spain is a nightmare, you cant imagine all the bulllshit around Michael. I have nothing against alonso but I would like to see a victory of Michael in front of Alonso and with Vettel in fourth position, third championship for the german, yes its cruel but some ignorants deserve this.

[fritticaldi]

Daimler now has full control of the F1 team as they bought back the share from Aabar. I assume the Aabar logos will vanish from the car in Brazil.

[OppositeLock]

It's so sad that Michael Schumacher has to bow out this way

The real question is why did he retire the first time? The comeback still makes no sense to me. He wasted two seasons knocking the rust off and then he couldn't decide whether to sign or not. He was never committed. It was just a nostalgia and p.r. exercise. I'm sure he realizes now that retirement is the best option.

I think the root of the problem at Mercedes is that the car still has Jenson Button's fingerprints all over it. Jenson 'smooth driver' Button who always seems to struggle to get heat into the tires. I believe that the feedback from an aggressive turn in driver like Hamilton will be just what Mercedes needs.

[raymondu999]

Interesting point you're making. But what feedback will Lewis give in that department that Michael couldn't? Or, for that matter - the engineers don't already know?

If you're talking about the point of the car being able to put heat into the tyres - sure, I get that. But to be honest - what feedback can you give in that department? "Make sure the tyres don't overheat" - then?

[Phillyred]

I'll be interested to see if Hamilton gets to drive the W03 during preseason testing before they officially launch the W04. I'd be curious as to what his driver feedback is and how it compares to what Rosberg and Schumacher relayed to the team all year. Do we know if the W04 is going to be a new car or an "evolution" of this year's?

[FoxHound]

But to be honest - what feedback can you give in that department? "Make sure the tyres don't overheat" - then?

Hamilton's set up will be different from both Rosberg and Schumacher's.
And he will bring with him some usable knowledge on how to switch on the tyres for his particular needs. The real question is whether Mercedes have changed the background as much as has been reported, to be able to give Hamilton the changes required to extract more from the tyre.

[FoxHound]

Do we know if the W04 is going to be a new car or an "evolution" of this year's?

It's reported to be all new.

[PlatinumZealot]

It will be the first real Mercedes. All the other cars were Honda derived.