Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 2013

[diego1960]

Marcush what you write makes sense, whereas what I understood was very strange, I thought they can't possibly think that splitting resources like that is clever! Anyway, let's see, I can't wait until February to be honest when we 'll get a first glance of the WO4.

[WhiteBlue]

Haug was living on borrowed time since Lauda was appointed. It should have been his job to sort out the Concord issues and he couldn't. He will probably be moved aside to some honorary function. The main point being that Haug started as a journalist and PR mouth piece, not as a racer or team principal. He was never on eye level with Bernie and the sharks. Lauda is a much better fit. He is likely to bite where Haug was just issuing press releases.

[gato azul]

As for Haug, looks like that "he bet the farm" (his job) on the MGP project, and lost in the end.
A bit like Mario Theissen with his BMW/Sauber adventure.
It will not have help his (Haugs) position, that BMW just took them to the cleaners in DTM this year as well.

That does not sound like a "sideways" move to me, more like a clean split.
I don't think Haug will stay to just do DTM & F3 etc, and just being relieved from his F1 job.
Let's see who will get that job and how it shakes out.

German car giant Mercedes and its motorsports boss Norbert Haug announced on Thursday that they would part company at the end of the year, after over two decades together.

[SilverArrow]

As for Haug, looks like that "he bet the farm" (his job) on the MGP project, and lost in the end.
A bit like Mario Theissen with his BMW/Sauber adventure.
It will not have help his (Haugs) position, that BMW just took them to the cleaners in DTM this year as well.

That does not sound like a "sideways" move to me, more like a clean split.
I don't think Haug will stay to just do DTM & F3 etc, and just being relieved from his F1 job.
Let's see who will get that job and how it shakes out.

German car giant Mercedes and its motorsports boss Norbert Haug announced on Thursday that they would part company at the end of the year, after over two decades together.

What does getting rid of him now accomplish though? It only reeks of desperation. Besides Brawn and the drivers, he was the only guy on that team who's name you could at least use in a sentence around the word success. If he "bet the farm" on the MGP project, then why is he gone when the project is still ongoing? Why not just let him sink with the ship?

[gato azul]

What does getting rid of him now accomplish though? It only reeks of desperation. Besides Brawn and the drivers, he was the only guy on that team who's name you could at least use in a sentence around the word success. If he "bet the farm" on the MGP project, then why is he gone when the project is still ongoing? Why not just let him sink with the ship?

Perhaps because Mercedes, does not want the ship to be sunken, therefore they decided to change the captain, as long as it still has a chance to escape.
Is the new captain a warranty, that it will not sink? Nobody knows, maybe - maybe not, but at least they can say they have tried. It sends the message out, that there are no "holy cows" any longer, and that the guys better get their --- together.
As they say, you are only as good as your last race (year), and the last year did not meet the expectations, so someone has to assume responsibility for it.

[ringo]

Firing Haug doesnt change anything. It only makes the pit garage less crowded. Maybe the guy had enough?
Maybe it was like the Bernie and Adam Parr thing and nothing to do with team operation?
Haug was the sacrifical hog.

[SilverArrow]

What does getting rid of him now accomplish though? It only reeks of desperation. Besides Brawn and the drivers, he was the only guy on that team who's name you could at least use in a sentence around the word success. If he "bet the farm" on the MGP project, then why is he gone when the project is still ongoing? Why not just let him sink with the ship?

Perhaps because Mercedes, does not want the ship to be sunken, therefore they decided to change the captain, as long as it still has a chance to escape.
Is the new captain a warranty, that it will not sink? Nobody knows, maybe - maybe not, but at least they can say they have tried. It sends the message out, that there are no "holy cows" any longer, and that the guys better get their --- together.
As they say, you are only as good as your last race (year), and the last year did not meet the expectations, so someone has to assume responsibility for it.

I don't think a new captain will do much when you have a pirate like Niki Lauda aboard.

I can agree with you there, but off the top of my head I can think of a few people that they would not only be better off without next year, but who they could have gotten rid of three years ago. To try and send a message with Haug makes no sense as he didn't even play a role in the development of the car. As I said, it just looks desperate and it's probably not what they needed right now.

[ringo]

Let's remember this is a mutual agreement and he had a contract which expired. No foul play or being tossed under the bus there.
So the only thing that comes naturally from an expired contract is the question of renewing.
That will be decided by the accomplishments of the last 3 years and the trends. Haug record over his contract period may have more to do with it not being renewed. And with it being expired and not terminated, i don't think he goes away feeling cheated or stabbed in the back.

[SaveMeHollywood]

James Allen writes:

That project has not delivered the expected results, despite investment and commitment from parent company Daimler and it is clear in Haug’s parting words that he recognises that his head was on the block as the results were not good enough,

“Since 1991, we had tremendous achievements and wins, for which I want to thank all of my colleagues,” he said. “Unfortunately, with one victory in 2012 since founding our own Formula One works team in 2010, we couldn’t fulfil our own expectations. However, we have taken the right steps to be successful in the future.”

This is corporate speak for, “We failed and I take the blame.” It’s sad for a long career like this to end in failure, but its surprisingly common.

The whole Mercedes project has shifted emphasis and tone since the curious decision was taken by Daimler’s board to hire Niki Lauda in an “overseeing” capacity. Lauda will not be based at Mercedes F1 in Brackley, but will stick his oar in and throw in the odd hand-grenade when he feels like it.

This structure has “trouble” written all over it and one wonders how long Ross Brawn will tolerate such an influence on the programme.

The flip-side of this point of view is that since taking over from world champions Brawn GP at the end of 2009, Mercedes has not got close to building a championship winning car.

Brawn and his team appear to have lost the winning touch and Haug has looked a marginalised figure at races, often sitting by himself, not hands-on with the racing. Taking that view, clearly Mercedes felt change was needed. Lauda helped to broker a deal with his old friend Bernie Ecclestone, which gave Mercedes the revenue and status it felt it deserved and thus he has proved his usefulness.

But can they become a winning force in today’s F1? Is it possible for a corporate company like Mercedes to do what Toyota, Honda and BMW all failed to do? Only Renault in recent times has come in and won world titles, but they did it by sticking close to the Benetton model laid out by Flavio Briatore.

He also adds this little bit about how the departure could have some implications for Lewis Hamilton:

Hamilton has lost a close ally (Haug) at the heart of the team, but there are other familiar faces around and anyway he has a direct line to the chairman if things get difficult or political.

Source:
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/12/m ... agreement/

[Cocles]

I will miss Haug.

I will too. He held a position that could make a man unbearable. He handled the job with aplomb, always showing an earnest interest in what he did and only speaking up when it concerned his own marquee. When you watch DTM, you can tell that he's well liked (and also in F1). As far as I'm concerned, he sacrificed his job to give us a Mercedes works team, and for that I am eternally grateful.

[Mika1]

Agreed.

By the way, I think Hamilton will build a very good relationship with Ross Brawn. Brawn is the thinker, Lewis the racer.

[Vasconia]

Then perhaps brace ourselves for another disappointment from this team? But seriously, I remember a Brawn interview saying that Aldo Costa is in charge of the 2013 car and Goff Willis of the the 2014 one. If that is the case it is logical that Aldo would continue to develop the W04 up until the end, leaving the 2014 version to Geoff without interfering. Isn't that the case?

You gave the answer. Aldo designs the 2013 car, Willis is working on the 2014 project. Conclusion: they split resources.

I dont see anything extrange, all teams have part of their resources focused on the 2014 project, changes are important and they need to work hard through a longer period than usual. Moreover, Mercedes expects to be a WC team in 2014. Next season, with the help of Costa, should be the season destinated to solve all the problems that the cars have suffered since 2010; tyres and realiabilty. If Costa gives Mercedes a car similar to Ferrari´s F10 it would be the best base to develop a winning car for 2014.

[FoxHound]

Not normally a fan of Pitpass, but this seems a fitting tribute to Norbert Haug. The guy had motorsport and Mercedes in his veins, if he is bleeding now...he is bleeding silver. For that,I salute you "Norby".

http://www.pitpass.com/48157-Farewell-N ... -the-book?

[Mika1]

Then perhaps brace ourselves for another disappointment from this team? But seriously, I remember a Brawn interview saying that Aldo Costa is in charge of the 2013 car and Goff Willis of the the 2014 one. If that is the case it is logical that Aldo would continue to develop the W04 up until the end, leaving the 2014 version to Geoff without interfering. Isn't that the case?

You gave the answer. Aldo designs the 2013 car, Willis is working on the 2014 project. Conclusion: they split resources.

I dont see anything extrange, all teams have part of their resources focused on the 2014 project, changes are important and they need to work hard through a longer period than usual. Moreover, Mercedes expects to be a WC team in 2014. Next season, with the help of Costa, should be the season destinated to solve all the problems that the cars have suffered since 2010; tyres and realiabilty. If Costa gives Mercedes a car similar to Ferrari´s F10 it would be the best base to develop a winning car for 2014.

Hamilton and other Mercedes AMG members said that 2014 is the most important year. They will try to improve the 2013 car a bit, but they accept (Hamilton) they aren't the fastest and have a lot of work to do (the first six months of the season as Hamilton said). This says to me that the main target is 2014 and that they won't use the same sources for 2013 as other teams.

[Vasconia]

[/quote]

Hamilton and other Mercedes AMG members said that 2014 is the most important year. They will try to improve the 2013 car a bit, but they accept (Hamilton) they aren't the fastest and have a lot of work to do (the first six months of the season as Hamilton said). This says to me that the main target is 2014 and that they won't use the same sources for 2013 as other teams.[/quote]

Yes that true, but 2013 is essential too to solve the problems I have mentioned and Costa´s role is a key factor in this aspect. Expect a more conservative car but one which doesnt destroy the tyres, this would be a main change in the good direction.