Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 2013

[k.ko100v]

Andrew Benson ‏@andrewbensonf1

Ross Brawn: "There is an awful lot to do. We need to quietly get on with it, not panic and make sure we do things in the right way"

[Dyanxx]

Andrew Benson, Chief F1 writer

"Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn has been talking to the media about his first experience of working with Lewis Hamilton at the track. 'It's still very early in terms of understanding what he wants from a car perspective, and of course we're at one circuit for one day,' Brawn said. 'He's clearly a person who enjoys being involved at all levels and that's a great motivation for the team. He's been working hard with the engineers this test, he's been here on the days when Nico's been driving with a headset and listening what's been going on, so everything I hoped he would be.' Brawn said optimism in the team was 'reasonably strong', adding: 'There is an awful lot to do but both drivers are putting a lot energy into the team. We know what happened last year; we know what we need to do this year. We need to quietly get on with it, not panic and make sure we do things in the right way.'""

[dren]

The most we can read into the statements is the car isn't a complete dog. It does need improving, though. Nico "butterflies and smiles" Rosberg even said the car understeers and needs improvement. That has been echoed by trackside observers. Hamilton says it meets his expectations, but remember he didn't have very high expectations.

[mix2mix]

"Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn has been talking to the media about his first experience of working with Lewis Hamilton at the track. 'It's still very early in terms of understanding what he wants from a car perspective, and of course we're at one circuit for one day,' Brawn said. 'He's clearly a person who enjoys being involved at all levels and that's a great motivation for the team. He's been working hard with the engineers this test, he's been here on the days when Nico's been driving with a headset and listening what's been going on, so everything I hoped he would be.' Brawn said optimism in the team was 'reasonably strong', adding: 'There is an awful lot to do but both drivers are putting a lot energy into the team. We know what happened last year; we know what we need to do this year. We need to quietly get on with it, not panic and make sure we do things in the right way.'"

good sign

[Nando]

Not to bash the team but being a manufacturer like Mercedes, one of the top brands in the world having a Formula 1 car looking like that is nothing but embarassing frankly.
(i know it´s testing etc but still)

It´s like night and day between BMW and Mercedes and how they went about doing things.

[PlatinumZealot]

You mean the burnt paint?
They can always make around there black but they chose not to.

[Dyanxx]

The most we can read into the statements is the car isn't a complete dog. It does need improving, though. Nico "butterflies and smiles" Rosberg even said the car understeers and needs improvement. That has been echoed by trackside observers. Hamilton says it meets his expectations, but remember he didn't have very high expectations.

Even Mark Webber was experiencing lots of understeer in the mighty Red Bull, It's difficult to really judge the car at the moment.

[Maelstrom]

I think we'll get a better idea at the final test. Right now nobody can predict much of anything.

[clipsy1H]

If Lewis is happy, then they are doing things right.

check Nico and Michael last year pre-season declarations..... we don't know at the moment where they are..... never someone will come out with stupids declaration who can affect your sponsors deal.

[PlatinumZealot]

If Lewis is happy, then they are doing things right.

check Nico and Michael last year pre-season declarations..... we don't know at the moment where they are..... never someone will come out with stupids declaration who can affect your sponsors deal.

Yeah, but the W03 was indeed top 3 at the begining of the season, so if Schumacher and Rosberg said the car felt great in winter testing last year they had good judgement. We all know it was poor mid-season development that really got them.

[clipsy1H]

If Lewis is happy, then they are doing things right.

check Nico and Michael last year pre-season declarations..... we don't know at the moment where they are..... never someone will come out with stupids declaration who can affect your sponsors deal.

Yeah, but the W03 was indeed top 3 at the begining of the season, so if Schumacher and Rosberg said the car felt great in winter testing last year they had good judgement. We all know it was poor mid-season development that really got them.

then check mid-season declarations.... all ppl said "we are on a good way! ; we are almost there just Red Bull is ahead: we struggle a little but we learn a lot today"
If this car will be bad (i hope not!!!) Lewis never will tell something bad because he's MERCEDES! you can't go out and talk shits and then Mercedes pay you 30 millions.

[pixdiff]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKT4808Qpuc[/youtube]

[tbeeornottbee]

I have been wondering for a while about the technical structure of the Mercedes Team. As far as I can tell the team is structured somewhat like this:

Ross Brawn - Team Principal; Bob Bell - Technical Director; Aldo Costa - Engineering Director; Geoff Willis - Technologies Director; John Owen - Chief Designer; Mike Elliot - Head of Aerodynamics

It has also been widely reported that Aldo Costa is heading up the 2013 car development while Geoff Willis is taking charge of the '14 car.

So can anyone tell me what Bob Bell and/or John Owen do if that's the case. The likes of Pat Fry, Adrian Newey, Paddy Lowe, and James Allison are all known as the person who directs/decides on the development of the car in their respective teams, they essentially decide/sign off on their car's design philosophy.
Also they are all notably always trackside with their cars (This must be advantageous to see their's and other's cars in action, otherwise why would they be there at all and not in the factory) Yet i'm struggling to find a picture of Bell or any of the other Merc tech team trackside. Is this maybe due to a lack of a defined boss or did the super tech team all take their jobs in Merc because they didnt want to go trackside anymore, and now there's no one to do it?

Just seems to me to be a lack of cohesion. Each man on the Merc team can probably design an entire car in their own right. Bell was Renault TD for Alonso's 2 championship wins. Costa worked as deputy designer under the great Rory Bryne at Ferrari. Willis is supposedly brilliant in aerodynamics....

Please, someone shed light on this for me

(hope ive posted this in the correct place)

TL;DR Merc tech team, who does what?

[Mika1]

Bob Bell leads the engine devision of Mercedes. Let me say this, I can understand the technical structure discussion, but don't forget Mercedes F1 is divided over Stuttgart, Brackley and Brixworth (engines).

[Nando]

Ross Brawn has welcomed Lewis Hamilton's direct approach as he is "part of the solution" at Mercedes.

After a shaky start to pre-season testing, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton got in some trouble-free running on Thursday and Friday.

It was the Brit who was behind the wheel of the W04 on Friday, the final day at Jerez, after which Hamilton admitted there is still work to be done at Mercedes.

The 28-year-old's comments, though, have not been taken the wrong way by his new Mercedes team boss.

"I think we have made it very clear to Lewis that he is part of the solution. You have a choice in a team, are you the problem or are you the solution?" Brawn told the Guardian newspaper.

"He is part of the solution to get us where we want to be. He knows that and he understands that and I think he is relishing that.

"It is correct that he gives his reference points and helps us understand what we have to focus on. Some of it we knew already and that is why restructured the aero group. I welcome that approach.

"It needs to positive and constructive but criticism of the right sort is helpful to a team, it drives you forward."

That is the criticism Brawn feels Hamilton has been forthcoming with as the former McLaren driver not only has a direct approach but also an attention to detail.

"He is very straightforward. In many ways he is very simple and straightforward. He tells us what he thinks and he is never short of detail in telling you what he thinks and, of course, you learn what level of detail you need to go to.

"He is interested in everything about the car. He is interested in the fact the stickers might not be put properly on the bodywork. He has got a very good eye for detail. I think he is going to be a very involved member of the team, which is what we wanted.

"He is clearly a very talented driver but Formula One is about so much more. There are a lot of highly talented drivers who don't have the rest of it, but I think he has got the rest of it as well."

http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/ ... _approach/