FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[racechick]

They've just bought the best driver, so no worries on the money front.
Haug's gone and the top engineers are different. I'd say that's quite a change round.

[andrew]

The best driver hasn't changed teams.

[racechick]

They've just bought Lewis and new engineers. Big changes this year.

[andrew]

You mean to say they've bought who you fell is the best driver.

Time of course will tell but going on the past 3 years I'm not getting my hopes up.

[elfinitty]

How long before the 2012 season did they start working on the 2012 car?

I guess after the first half of the season,they must've started to think they will not achieve anything this year so let's focus on 2013.

[Jabberwocky]

When I had a look around the Mercedes factory the description of the design team they gave was that once the car hit the track pre season testing all the engineers where split into groups, each group with a specific package to design eg Monaco. Once the groups package was used depening on how the season was going the group would either design or update a package for this years car, or concentrate on next years car. So taking that into mind, how the team developed the car this year will effect next years car. Just like they are saying Redbull poured everything into the rb8 this year and the rb9 is well behind where it should be

[scotty]

When I had a look around the Mercedes factory the description of the design team they gave was that once the car hit the track pre season testing all the engineers where split into groups, each group with a specific package to design eg Monaco. Once the groups package was used depening on how the season was going the group would either design or update a package for this years car, or concentrate on next years car. So taking that into mind, how the team developed the car this year will effect next years car. Just like they are saying Redbull poured everything into the rb8 this year and the rb9 is well behind where it should be

Interesting, i never knew that about how Mercedes operate. I assumed all the biggest teams operated something similar to how McLaren apparently do (or did in the not too distant past) and have 2 dedicated teams, working on alternate years' cars. i.e. so there's always a team working on the new car and one developing the current one.

[Jabberwocky]

I suppose it it pro's and con's maybe that is why Mclaren are perceived to have a good year followed by a bad year.

[racechick]

That is interesting Jab. When did you go? Was it recently? Last year Mercedes didnt do well, which would suggest they had people working on next years car early.Also, Costa will surely only have been working on next years car all year, because he was too late to work on the 2012 car. And , is it Bell orWillis?I forget which?only starts work at the new year. Everything points to the fact that they will have been working on this car for some time. The other side of the coin is that next years cars are a development of this years, which doesn't bode so well. Unless as the article suggests, they've made some sweeping changes on the design. Oh t'will be interesting to watch!!

[CookinFlat6]

The other side of the coin is that next years cars are a development of this years, which doesn't bode so well. Unless as the article suggests, they've made some sweeping changes on the design. Oh t'will be interesting to watch!!

racebabe, I think that regulations evolution is better than revolution for Merc going into next year. As you say they have started very early, made big changes, spent money and their team have the funds to close the gap whereas Red Bull surely cant find much more performance than 2012

And with Lewis bringing time wrt galvanizing the team as well as his particular ability to max a car at every chance, It will not be the same Merc as before

and so, Bernie possibly standing down, and Haug out of a job....

I wonder...

is Bernie gonna replace Norbert at Mercedes?

[darwin dali]

The other side of the coin is that next years cars are a development of this years, which doesn't bode so well. Unless as the article suggests, they've made some sweeping changes on the design. Oh t'will be interesting to watch!!

racebabe, I think that regulations evolution is better than revolution for Merc going into next year. As you say they have started very early, made big changes, spent money and their team have the funds to close the gap whereas Red Bull surely cant find much more performance than 2012

And with Lewis bringing time wrt galvanizing the team as well as his particular ability to max a car at every chance, It will not be the same Merc as before

and so, Bernie possibly standing down, and Haug out of a job....

I wonder...

is Bernie gonna replace Norbert at Mercedes?

Yeah: Haug replacing Bernie would be good!

[CookinFlat6]

Yeah, could be yet

Mercedes did not want to stay in F1, then publicly declaring that Bernie should go if chased by the German courts

then big turn around, Merc sign agreement to stay on, Lewis is elegantly detached from McLaren, Haug steps down, Bernie starts talking about not being around

Cant say Haug doesnt have the right credentials and connections

yeah I wonder....

The Bernie and Max show becomes the ex Merc man and the ex Ferrari man show

[racechick]

Oh that is an interesting thought! I can't think of many who I can see taking on Bernies role, but Haug hmmmm I can see him doing it.

Hi Cookie. That's a good point about the stable rules giving teams like Merecedes scope to catch up on the front runners who have already exploited the rules to the full. A good springboard for 2014, and maybe a nice surprise next year

[bud]

Usually a rule change helps teams catch up, stable rules aren't helpful. Mercedes aren't too far behind too catch up though.

[Hammer278]

It will be a huge surprise if Haug takes over Bernie but I don't really hope for it to happen. Why create such a story about "I failed Merc so I must leave them" when he can just say he has plans for the future and has Merc's support in this...etcetc. Though it will be a pleasant surprise if it does happen.