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[Juliet P]

Mercedes can win Formula 1 title, says Ross Brawn

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn believes his team are still capable of winning this season's Formula 1 world title.
The German-owned outfit have managed only two podium finishes this season, Nico Rosberg taking third place at the Malaysian and Chinese Grands Prix.
And Rosberg, Mercedes's highest-placed driver, is 35 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
But Brawn insisted: "We are still within striking distance of the Championship leaders."
The 55-year-old captured the title with his own team, Brawn GP, last season - with Jenson Button crowned champion - before selling to Mercedes before the new campaign.
But while Brawn remained at the helm, his team have not stayed at the front of the pack as they have struggled to match the pace of rivals McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari.

McLaren have recorded one-twos in the previous two races to surge to the top of the standings - Hamilton leads Button by three points, with Red Bull's Mark Webber a further three points behind in third.
Rosberg lies in sixth place, with team-mate Michael Schumacher ninth - the seven-time champion, who returned to racing this year after three years in retirement is 75 points off the pace.
But Brawn is confident of closing the gap to the leaders, after seeing an encouraging performance by Rosberg in Montreal last team out, and he is optimistic about his team's chances of doing well at the next race in Valencia on 27 June.
He said: "Our car was well suited to the circuit in Montreal and our pace during the race was encouraging.

"Nico was clearly one of the quickest cars during the race and his climb from the midfield to sixth place was a very impressive performance.
"Looking ahead to Valencia, the circuit is similar to Montreal in many ways with long straights connected by slow corners which should suit our car.
"We have an upgrade package which will be another good step in our development towards competing at the front of the field.

"We will continue with our efforts to become more competitive. We have a number of the basics right and the difference between winning and losing is small. We need to close that difference."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8748322.stm

[What's Burning?]

Regroup, try again next year.

[texasmr2]

I agree.

[scotty]

If they find something brilliant in development that gets them right up at the front then maybe, otherwise nope.

[myownalias]

Given the points structure; I don't see why they can't make a run for the WCC this year if they can make a jump in car performance to match the McLaren's and Red Bull's. But with Michael Schumacher seemingly misfiring, by his own admission struggling with the 2010 tyre specification, it will be tough to claim a championship!

[texasmr2]

If they find something brilliant in development that gets them right up at the front then maybe, otherwise nope.

Since it seems they have stopped all major developments on this seasons car it would take an act of God for them to win the WDC or the WCC. I'm hoping next years car will be a scorcher for Michael to prove he still has game, this years car is utter .

[The Ram]

The thing is, people always tout Brawn as some genius engineer when he is not an engineer, so the current slump for MGP didn't surprise me one bit. A genius engineer just wouldn't make a failure like that when the aero regs barely changed. Brawn can strategise, direct and manage all he wants, but if those engineers aren't up to scratch the car aint winning. The BGP01 was only succesful because of Honda Money and serious design optimisation. Brawn had nothing to do with that. Because... he didn't design the car.he's no engineer! Same for the Ferrari's.. I just don't see why people think the man designs the things.

[texasmr2]

The thing is, people always tout Brawn as some genius engineer when he is not an engineer, so the current slump for MGP didn't surprise me one bit. A genius engineer just wouldn't make a failure like that when the aero regs barely changed. Brawn can strategise, direct and manage all he wants, but if those engineers aren't up to scratch the car aint winning. The BGP01 was only succesful because of Honda Money and serious design optimisation. Brawn had nothing to do with that. Because... he didn't design the car.he's no engineer! Same for the Ferrari's.. I just don't see why people think the man designs the things.

I doubt anyone here with any knowledge of F1 knows Ross is not an engineer per say but thanks for clarifying that AGAIN for us . Also the regs have changed enough from year to year through out F1's history to transform any front running car one year into almost a mid-pack car the next year .

[7UpJordan]

Maybe he should stop eating bananas.

[Brawn]

Never underestimate the Brawn.

[kerc]

Well, it seems Honda engineers beat the crap out of Mercedes engineers.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Well, it seems Honda engineers beat the crap out of Mercedes engineers.

+1

Brawn got a jump on the competition last year because of the chassis that Honda Racing F1 already had prepared before corporate pulled the plug on them. The other teams all were struggling for grip in the rear because the FIA switched to slicks too soon to the start of the season for Bridgestone to build a proper engineered tyre. They just used the same width carcass as the treaded tyres but with slick treads. Because fronts give over more width to tread than rears, the front slicks gained more grip from the change than the rears. Thanks to the shadow diffuser, this proved no problem atall for Brawn. For a few races there, it even made Button look like the proper F1 driver.

Brawn's great stroke of genius was in realising what a brilliant chassis Honda had prepared and buying what remained of the team so he could campaign it.

[f1ea]

For a few races there, it even made Button look like the proper F1 driver.

Brawn's great stroke of genius was in realising what a brilliant chassis Honda had prepared and buying what remained of the team so he could campaign it.

and directing the development and design process... ie turning focus towards the most important things, like the diffuser (for the above reasons you said about the rear lsing grip compared to the front).

[Jamie]

Cook-Oo

He's been hanging out with Towley

SCOTTY!!!!

[Hammer278]

After the Valencia GP one can safely say Peter Sauber is the new Brawn. Brawn must have left his brains in those old red overalls gathering dust in the wardrobe, Michael was nicely pinned by his own team this time. And they have shifted blame on the pitlane red light...