Mercedes gearboxes 2010-2014 mystery

[MIKEY_!]

I noticed something odd today and there seems to be very little info around on it. Wikipedia lists the Mercedes W01 to W05 as using xtrac 1044 gearbox internals in a Mercedes case. This struck me as odd because a) I've never heard this before, b) I thought Brackley built their own gearboxes, and c) that includes the first year of hybrid powertrains which as I understand required a full gearbox redesign.
Xtrac's Wikipedia page also claims xtrac has been Mercedes F1's official gearbox co-partner since 2010.

Wikipedia isn't a very reliable source, there are no citations for these claims on Wikipedia, and I can't find any mention of this elsewhere (including on F1 Technical), but it seems like an odd thing for someone to just make up.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[jjn9128]

A little digging on Xtrac's website you can find their lists of champions - they don't list either F1 championships for Brawn or Mercedes (2009 and 2014-onwards), so we can at least say they don't supply them any more. They do list drivers and constructors for 2010-2013, so they supply(/supplied) Red Bull.

Proud supplier to championship winners in 2009 including:
Dakar Rally - 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
World Rally Championship - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
Grand AM Rolex Sports Car Series (DP) - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Drivers, Teams & Constructors
Grand AM Rolex Sports Car Series (GT) - 2nd & 3rd Teams
Sebring 12 Hours – 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th (Overall)
Sebring 12 Hours LMP1 - 1st & 3rd
Sebring 12 Hours GT1 - 1st, 2nd
Le Mans 24 Hours – 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th (Overall)
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1 - 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Le Mans 24 Hours GT1 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Super GT GT300 - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
A1GP 2009 Team Ireland
Indianapolis 500
IRL Championship
ALMS (American Le Mans Series) LM P1 - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
ALMS (American Le Mans Series) LM GT1 - Drivers , Teams & Constructors
FFSA GT Championship - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
LMS (Le Mans Series) LM P1 - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
LMS (Le Mans Series) LM GT 1 - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
AMA Motocross Lites - 2nd, Riders, Teams & Constructors
AMA Supercross Lites – 1st & 2nd (East), 2nd& 3rd (West)
SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring Car Championship -1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Drivers
SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring Car Championship -1st, 2nd, 3rd Teams & Constructors
SCCA Speed World Challenge GT Championship – 1st Drivers & Teams - 2nd Constructors
Redline Time Attack – Unlimited Front Wheel Drive
Stock Car Copa Nextel Brazil - Drivers, Teams & Constructors
TC2000 Argentina Touring Car - Drivers, Teams & Constructors

Proud supplier to championship winners in 2014 including:
Dakar Rally - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Daytona 24 Hours (Prototype) - 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Monte Carlo Rally
Sebring 12 Hours - 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th
Indianapolis 500
IndyCar Championship
Le Mans 24 Hours - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th (Overall)
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1H - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1L - 1st, 2nd
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE P – 2nd, 4th
Le Mans 24 Hours GTE A - 1st, 6th
World Rally Championship – Drivers & Constructors
South Africa National Rally Championship
Middle east Rally Championship
Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
MSA British Touring Car Championship - Drivers
MSA British Touring Car Championship - Constructors
TORC Pro-4 Championship
Lucas Oil Off-Road Pro-4 Championship

Proud supplier to championship winners in 2013 including:
Dakar Rally - 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Daytona 24 Hours (Prototype) - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Sebring 12 Hours LMP1 (ALMS) – 1st, 2nd
Sebring 12 Hours LMPC - 1st - 6th
Sebring 12 Hours GT - 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Indianapolis 500
IndyCar Championship
FIA Formula 1 - Drivers & Constructors
Le Mans 24 Hours - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP1 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Le Man 24 Hours GTE A
WEC (World Endurance Championship) LM P1 - Constructors
ALMS Michelin Green X Challenge GT, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Blancpain Endurance Series
British GT Championship
MSA British Touring Car Championship - Drivers, 1st - 10th
MSA British Touring Car Championship - Teams, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
MSA British Touring Car Championship - Constructors, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
World Touring Car Championship - Drivers, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th , 9th, 10th
Dominican Touring Car Series (DTS)
World Rally Championship – Drivers & Constructors
FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup - Drivers & Constructors

[Just_a_fan]

There is a big difference between supplying the gearboxes or their internals, and supplying consultancy services to a team. They don't claim to be supplying the gearboxes as a supplier but also they don't say that they don't provide consultancy to the team.

[jjn9128]

There is a big difference between supplying the gearboxes or their internals, and supplying consultancy services to a team. They don't claim to be supplying the gearboxes as a supplier but also they don't say that they don't provide consultancy to the team.

So they had a phone conversation with someone in the building once and now they're partners Happens with CAD software all the time, 1 person in a company orders a trial and they're official suppliers.

[saviour stivala]

What ever a team manufactures within the car there is always suppliers.

[Just_a_fan]

Of course. But if I supply you with billet aluminium which you then machine to form gearbox parts, does that make me a gearbox supplier? Of course not. If I supply you with gearbox components e.g. gear sets, then yes, I am a gearbox supplier.

The original question was whether Xtrac fit in to the latter category or not.