Current Mercedes

Mercedes GP

FIA Entry: Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team
Car 7: Michael Schumacher
Car 8: Nico Rosberg
Engine: Mercedes V8
Team Principal: Ross Brawn
Technical Director: Bob Bell
Race Engineer Car 7: Mark Slade
Race Engineer Car 8: Tony Ross

Stats as of end 2010

First Entered 2010
Races Entered 19
Race Wins 0
Pole Positions 0
Fastest Laps 0
Driver World Championships 0
Constructor World Championships 0

Team History

The Mercedes team history splits into two parts. In 1954 the famous pre-war Silver Arrows entered the F1 world championship and recorded a 1-2 at their first race. Fangio went on to win the drivers championship that year and again in 1955. Mercedes withdrew at the end of the 1955 season after the accident which killed 80 spectators at Le Mans which involved one of their cars.

The current team entered F1 in 2010 after Mercedes bought Brawn Grand Prix. Brawn Grand Prix, winners of the Drivers Championship, with Jenson Button, and the constructor’s championship in 2009, grew out of the ashes of Honda’s F1 entry after Honda had withdrawn from F1 at the end of the 2008 season after only a single Grand Prix win for Button in Hungary 2006.

Prior to the Honda takeover in 2006 the team had raced under the name of British America racing which had acquired the assets and race entry of the Tyrrell F1 team in 1999. BAR competed in 118 races without a single victory. The high points for the team were 2 pole positions (both for Button – San Marino 2004 and Canada 2005) and 2nd in the constructors championship in 2004.

Tyrrell were amongst the most successful private F1 teams taking part in 463 Grands Prix, scoring 33 victories and 3 Drivers Championships, all with Jackie Stewart.

2010

Having replaced Button and Barrichello with Nico Rosberg and 7 times WDC Michael Schumacher many expected great things of the new Mercedes team in 2010 but they had an indifferent season.

Rosberg managed 3 podiums for the team but Schumacher, coming back from retirement, struggled with the new cars, tyres and limited testing under the revised regulations. The team finished 4th in the Constructors Championship.

2011

For 2011 Mercedes retain the same driver line up and are hoping for better things from their MGP W02 chassis.

 

[FB]

It would really cock things up if they stopped supplying engines as well.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Gives them a bit of leverage between now and their inevitable appeal withdrawal.

 

[Bill Boddy]

According to Race fans:

"During the final stages leading up to the signing of the agreement by all teams, there were suggestions from Mercedes Motorsport CEO Toto Wolff that compromises had been made, in turn leading the current champions to sign the 2021-2025 agreement."

So Mercedes would have to break a major contract which I am sure that they would find embarrassing to put it mildly.

 

[Brogan]

Not as embarrassed as the FIA and F1 for turning "the show" into a corrupt clown circus.

 

[cider_and_toast]

So Mercedes would have to break a major contract which I am sure that they would find embarrassing to put it mildly.

Why?

It isn't going to happen anyway but what if Mercedes did tear up their contract and walk away?

They would come across as making a stand on principle. For F1 to have a major manufacturer throw a contract back in their face I would suggest would be more embarrassing.

Honda, BMW and Toyoto all signed an agreement in 2006 committing to remain in the sport until 2012 and one pulled out in 2008 and two in 2009 and I don't recall tons of embarrassment then. Well, apart from Brawn taking a Mercedes engine in the Honda chassis and winning their title for them.

 

[gethinceri]

Lovely.

 

[Il_leone]

Why?

It isn't going to happen anyway but what if Mercedes did tear up their contract and walk away?

They would come across as making a stand on principle. For F1 to have a major manufacturer throw a contract back in their face I would suggest would be more embarrassing.

Honda, BMW and Toyoto all signed an agreement in 2006 committing to remain in the sport until 2012 and one pulled out in 2008 and two in 2009 and I don't recall tons of embarrassment then. Well, apart from Brawn taking a Mercedes engine in the Honda chassis and winning their title for them.

Well Honda had more embarrassment with Mclaren tbh

BMW had the embarrassment that Sauber entered the team as BMW Sauber Ferrari in 2010
Toyota has had bigger embarrassment with no wins in 139 races and the infamous DC quote "Signed Schumacher but the wrong one'

 

[cider_and_toast]

All true but none of that had anything to do with the decision to pull out.

 

[Il_leone]

All true but none of that had anything to do with the decision to pull out.

I don't think Mercedes will pull out because they have cut back on everything inc Formula E to focus on F1 and their influence is huge.

Certainly those with Merc engines will be scrambling to Renault or go to VW group to get a better deal.

Going back to the others they all cite credit crunch essentially and you 're right they all pulled out but it was Honda creating a shockwave so there was more an expectancy one might pull out but not both.

 

[cider_and_toast]

It's been 3 days since the Mercedes appeal was dismissed after the race and, with 96 hours in which to subsequently appeal to the FIA, that only leaves tomorrow left.

Most journalistic reports claim that the FIA court of appeal is the first, last and only level of appeal for the teams after the race. The teams have signed away the right to take claims to CAS.

As usual, short term gain equals long term pain.

So, if Mercedes do carry out their appeal they will only be judged by the people they are appealing against and, they risk two PR issues, that of being sore losers and the potential result of losing.

Their legal team would need to be certain they can win before going ahead. I have heard interviews with two different QCs who have commented that in their opinion Mercedes have an extremely strong case. The question is, will they fight it?

I'm almost certain that by the end of tomorrow a statement will be issued to the effect that Mercedes F1 thanks everyone for the messages of support and they are extremely disappointed at how the season ended. For the good of the sport they will not be carrying forward their appeal but will urge the FIA to review the rules surrounding the deployment of safety car in time for next season. The team will work closely with the FIA to support these efforts.

That's my bet.

 

[Brogan]

Agreed.

In a court of law they would be guaranteed of winning the case.

 

[sobriety]

and then nothing will change. F1 is a lot like football/boxing/olympics in so far as the governing body being broken/corrupt/both depending on ones point of view.

 

[Il_leone]

It's been 3 days since the Mercedes appeal was dismissed after the race and, with 96 hours in which to subsequently appeal to the FIA, that only leaves tomorrow left.

Most journalistic reports claim that the FIA court of appeal is the first, last and only level of appeal for the teams after the race. The teams have signed away the right to take claims to CAS.

As usual, short term gain equals long term pain.

So, if Mercedes do carry out their appeal they will only be judged by the people they are appealing against and, they risk two PR issues, that of being sore losers and the potential result of losing.

Their legal team would need to be certain they can win before going ahead. I have heard interviews with two different QCs who have commented that in their opinion Mercedes have an extremely strong case. The question is, will they fight it?

I'm almost certain that by the end of tomorrow a statement will be issued to the effect that Mercedes F1 thanks everyone for the messages of support and they are extremely disappointed at how the season ended. For the good of the sport they will not be carrying forward their appeal but will urge the FIA to review the rules surrounding the deployment of safety car in time for next season. The team will work closely with the FIA to support these efforts.

That's my bet.

I think Hamilton is swaying them not to go ahead with it. The problem is having to overturn 3 verdicts

The stewards who rejected their appeal
The race result
The championship

This will get Red Bull ready to launch a counter protest

I think Lewis does not need the distraction..if I was Mercedes run the moral high ground and not protest like you said.

 

[Bill Boddy]

There are still 3 engine manufacturer so it would just be a matter of them increasing the number each makes. According to the Beeb VW are interest as long as the engine is simplified somewhat.

I think if it finished under the SC it would have been a disappointment but at least the right person won the race

I don't think Mercedes will pull out because they have cut back on everything inc Formula E to focus on F1

In my opinion Mercedes has been very bad for F1, there has been 7 yeas of no racing. Then when we finally go an engine which was the equal to the Merc despite the homologation they suddenly up with one in Brazil which is 30 kph than the Honda. Good riddance.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Did you feel the same about Ferrari's five consecutive victories or Red Bull's four or is it just Mercedes you don't like?

You can't blame a team for winning because that's what they're there to do. Blame the system that allowed that to happen and the other teams for not getting the best out of their packages.

If you are at the point when you think it's better to break the rules to see someone win because you don't like the other guy then I'd say you've probably forgotten the point of sporting competition

 

[Il_leone]

There are still 3 engine manufacturer so it would just be a matter of them increasing the number each makes. According to the Beeb VW are interest as long as the engine is simplified somewhat.





In my opinion Mercedes has been very bad for F1, there has been 7 yeas of no racing. Then when we finally go an engine which was the equal to the Merc despite the homologation they suddenly up with one in Brazil which is 30 kph than the Honda. Good riddance.

Wrong Ferrari did challenge but the internal politics let the team down

Red Bull did challenge but not as consistently

I thought the years of Schumacher were boring and when Red Bull moaned about the pirellis were restring them it was boring

If Mercedes were to pull out they will lose out more than they think

Did you feel the same about Ferrari's five consecutive victories or Red Bull's four or is it just Mercedes you don't like?

You can't blame a team for winning because that's what they're there to do. Blame the system that allowed that to happen and the other teams for not getting the best out of their packages.

If you are at the point when you think it's better to break the rules to see someone win because you don't like the other guy then I'd say you've probably forgotten the point of sporting competition

And Red Bull threatened to quit because they did not like getting trounced and blamed everything on Renault instead of trouncing everyone. I will say the hybrid era Toto saw what was needed and got Mercedes organised to be the dominant force they are like Todt did with Ferrari in 2000's. Red Bull have themselves to blame for not getting the best out of them and Renault they were busy thrashing everyone in 2013 when everyone turned their attention to the hybrid era

 

[cider_and_toast]

And another thing, Mercedes are the only team out of the three dominant periods who didn't (openly at least) deliberately disadvantage their second driver.

Anyone recall "Remember your contract Rubens?" Or "Not bad for a number 2"?

Mercedes let Hamilton and Rosberg go at it hammer and tongs, so much so that Rosberg called it a day after almost burning himself out to win a title.

I know I've called for Bottas to be more helpful this season when it was clearly evident it was a two horse race and he wasn't one of them but Mercedes have always had an outward policy of equal driver treatment.

 

[Brogan]

Mercedes just withdrew their appeal.

Beyond disgusted.

 

[The Pits]

Mercedes let Hamilton and Rosberg go at it hammer and tongs, so much so that Rosberg called it a day after almost burning himself out to win a title

Tin foil hat alert:

Mercedes were so peeved at the drivers clashing that they made Rosberg an offer - we will give you the WDC as long as you promise to retire straight after so we can get someone more pliable in the car.

 

[cider_and_toast]

Tin foil hat alert:

Mercedes were so peeved at the drivers clashing that they made Rosberg an offer - we will give you the WDC as long as you promise to retire straight after so we can get someone more pliable in the car.

No chance.