Mercedes GP - Inauguration and 1st season

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

I would take Kobayashi over both.

[segedunum]

I think maybe this thread should be closed for a year or two to avoid treading on some peoples' sensibilities until such a time that the team is either closed or rebranded.

The notion that somehow the Mercedes GP deal was cobbled together in a couple of months at the end of 2009 is just nonsense, and with the McLaren partnership falling apart and Brawn getting a supply of Mercedes engines (which didn't happen for nothing) it was clear to everyone what was going to happen throughout 2009. Brawn didn't ensure the survival of the team by himself, that's for sure. It's a pretty obvious set of dots to join, which you will never get confirmation of, and motoring journalists were predicting it for the best part of a year.

The issue of whether a manufacturer team survives, as we have seen over the past few years, is a brutal and dispassionate business and getting into team ownership as we have seen is not always based on the best or realistic of motives. Trying to readjust those motives, view history differently or provide excuses isn't going to help.

[aral]

It is interesting to hear that a number of drivers have been seen entering the Merc motorhome. I doubt that they are all going there for their midday break. And I doubt that Nico is to be replaced. Even EeJit noticed it.

[xpensive]

As I mentioned on another thread it's becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend why MS is taking this crap?

@Seg;
My sentiments precisely, why I'm sure that already 2009 cost Daimler a megabuck or fifty, engines for free to begin with.
Come to think of it, now that Ross Brawn has been with the Brackley-squad for more than two years, perhaps even this canonized individual should be questioned? Just a little bit of course...

[andrew]

As I mentioned on another thread it's becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend why MS is taking this crap?

Likely he's looking at the long term. Crap first year, great second and third is probably the plan.

[zeph]

It is interesting to hear that a number of drivers have been seen entering the Merc motorhome. I doubt that they are all going there for their midday break. And I doubt that Nico is to be replaced. Even EeJit noticed it.

Got any links to sources?

[aral]

It is interesting to hear that a number of drivers have been seen entering the Merc motorhome. I doubt that they are all going there for their midday break. And I doubt that Nico is to be replaced. Even EeJit noticed it.

Got any links to sources?

Yes, BBC, Eddie Jordan and DC! There was also a suggestion that Schumi may be interested in a management role, although I would doubt that.

[zeph]

I missed that and can't view it. Anything online?

[xpensive]

It is interesting to hear that a number of drivers have been seen entering the Merc motorhome. I doubt that they are all going there for their midday break. And I doubt that Nico is to be replaced. Even EeJit noticed it.

Let me try a wild guess here, Sutil, Glock and Hulkenberg, nicht wahr marcush?

[aral]

I missed that and can't view it. Anything online?

No I haven't come across anything online yet, but as it is not a "statement" from some source, I doubt that it would be flagged. I think it was between q2 and q3. Who knows, it may be mentioned again tomorrow. EeJit, was being a bit cagey and didn't want to say too much, so I guess he has the names of the drivers, in his notebook. Kovi may be one, as he is looking around for a competitive car.

[marcush.]

tbh Glock or Heidfeld.
But germans are stubborn ,don´t forget this.My view is Schu will not quit before he knows if he has a chance to win with next years car.

OR: he has already realised it will not happen next year and decided to say: no thank you not for me... the tone in his post race interview was subdued ,his morale seemed to be affected thats how I saw it.

[segedunum]

As I mentioned on another thread it's becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend why MS is taking this crap?

Likely he's looking at the long term. Crap first year, great second and third is probably the plan.

He simply does not have the time for that, and the competition is such that it makes that extremely unlikely. The only thing that makes sense is that he and Mercedes thought they would at least win races this year. I don't think they contemplated how far behind they would be.

[segedunum]

It is interesting to hear that a number of drivers have been seen entering the Merc motorhome. I doubt that they are all going there for their midday break. And I doubt that Nico is to be replaced. Even EeJit noticed it.

Got any links to sources?

Eddie Jordan mentioned it, and he is the guy who said Schumacher would drive for Mercedes this year.

[xpensive]

Five months ago I predicted Schumacher would only last until mid-season, I was wrong, but perhaps not by that much?

I just can't picture him going on like this, fighting Force Indias and lose, today will surely be another embarassment.

[raymondu999]

EJ and DC hinted that they thought he might be heading off for driver management.