Mercedes AMG is going forward!!
By Timba7
December 17 2012
Mercedes AMG F1 team seems to be in some sort of build mode. Some say they have dropped the ball. Some say the future is bright. Who knows the truth? I quess in todays world no one can predict more than few months forward. To build working F1 team nowadays is hard work. And even if some teams seems to be pretty good, no one really knows what next season is for them.Mercedes is going forward. If it needs to change personel. Then so be it. MercedesAMG needs some new direction. And now we have it. Schumi and Haug out. Other changes aswell : Andy Cowell will replace Thomas Fuhr as head of Mercedes' Formula 1 engine arm from the start of 2013. Lewis in. Bring on the 2013!!!! Please do visit our F1network Mercedes AMG forum. And you are welcome to leave some views of the matter. Also under this news is place to write your thoughts. It´s that simple.Anyways HAUG was really important man and has worked with Mercedes engines for long time. Here is his thoughts:
"I would like to thank the best car company in the world for more than 22 years, which never had a single moment without passion for me. I particularly wish to thank the Board for the trust and freedom they have always given me with all my activities. Since 1991, we had tremendous achievements and wins, for which I want to thank all of my colleagues. 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. Our team and our drivers will do everything to achieve these goals,"
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Now all we need is a half decent car around it as we have the drivers to move forward.
I wouldn't rule out that they could do better than that, but I can't see many reasons they'd do much worse. Ross Brawn hasn't suddenly turned into an idiot, and if he says that he's now got the reporting lines and structures right in his (admittedly rather top-heavy looking) organization, I'd at least give him the benefit of the doubt.
I think the Lotus comparison is important in another way too. Like Lotus in 2011, Brackley designed a car for 2012 which tripped over a fundamental characteristic of that year's Pirellis. (Lotus put too much downforce up front with the FEE, not leaning enough on the rears; Merc built a car which was hard on the rears and didn't work the fronts enough).
In both cases, the result was a car which was intermittently quick - each had redeeming features and was the product of serious people - but was fundamentally flawed in ways which -were easily recognised and corrected for the following year-. Of course, each team had lost a bit of development time pushing down a blind alley. But the scale of operation and competence of people involved will allow Brackley to make a big step forward next year. I'll be surprised if they aren't at least top 4 in the WCC.
The big downside risk I see for the team is of internal political strife. The Board seem to have given Niki Lauda power without responsibility, which is pretty poor corporate governance. The chorus of German voices from the gallery calling for Brawn and/or the technical team to be sacked don't help, and I'm not encouraged by Lauda saying he sees Helmut Marko's role at Red Bull as an example to emulate. But if the car's quick out of the box, everyone will be all smiles and no-one will complain. And if Niki can explain to the Board that, no, they were wrong to think they could compete with Mclaren but pay less, and if they want to win championships they'll have to dig alot deeper, there's still time to turn the team around.
All just my 2c...
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