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[andrew]

How anyone cannot be impressed with a driver coming from the back of the field to secure a decent finish is rather odd to say the least.

[theTruth]

How anyone cannot be impressed with a driver coming from the back of the field to secure a decent finish is rather odd to say the least.

Andrew! It was the spin man, and the unforced errors. His race and championship hopes could have ended when he was sitting there, backwards, and at the mercy of the other guys!

But hey, like I said, he went out and got the title, four-in- a-row was impressive, for sure.

[andrew]

How anyone cannot be impressed with a driver coming from the back of the field to secure a decent finish is rather odd to say the least.

Andrew! It was the spin man, and the unforced errors. His race and championship hopes could have ended when he was sitting there, backwards, and at the mercy of the other guys!

But hey, like I said, he went out and got the title, four-in- a-row was impressive, for sure.

The spin man who was hit - hardly an unforced error when someone clouts yer backside!

[Hammer278]

Nobody cares about Vettel's spin exploits in this thread.

Btw, Schumacher speaks:

Michael Schumacher says Lewis Hamilton is arriving at Mercedes at the right time in the team's development.

Having returned bought out the championship-winning Brawn team at the end of 2009, Mercedes has scored just one victory in the three years that followed with Schumacher and Nico Rosberg driving. Schumacher has now retired after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton for the 2013 season, but he says Mercedes is now in a position to build a competitive car and develop it effectively throughout the year.

"In the first two years we definitely did not have the capability to fight on several fronts," Schumacher was quoted as saying by The Sun. "If there were problems we had to take care of them so the development process was interrupted.

"Only now is there a structure that enables both. It's a strong structure for 2013 and beyond. The car we had last year was built under the old conditions. I'm talking about quantity, not quality. That has always been the reason why development stagnated."

Schumacher added that the structure was in place towards the end of 2012 but was taking time to work properly.

"We created the basic conditions for the team to move forward. Maybe a few cogs have to mesh before that happens."

____________________________________________________

Granted Schumacher won't exactly be saying "Merc are destined for failure" at this point, but what he says correlates exactly with what the management has been saying all this while. 2013 will be interesting. I expect Merc to start as the 4th best team at worst and work their way up to 2nd or 3rd by the end of the season. Let the games begin!

[vlad]

I can't remember when was the last time I saw 1 driver sacrifice himself so much for the team progress like Schumacher did for Mercedes... That won't come without good results, but the main question is the duration of those results.

[andrew]

I can't remember when was the last time I saw 1 driver sacrifice himself so much for the team progress like Schumacher did for Mercedes... That won't come without good results, but the main question is the duration of those results.

There ain't a better development driver to have.

[Jabberwocky]

I can't remember when was the last time I saw 1 driver sacrifice himself so much for the team progress like Schumacher did for Mercedes... That won't come without good results, but the main question is the duration of those results.

I seem to remember him sacrificing himself for Massa as well

[racechick]

http://wp.me/pwrRn-kn

Try this link. I found it fascinating. The more technical of you may already know. It's about the new engines. This guy has been to Mercedes to hear about them and he's seen and heard them. It's sounds really exciting.
The blog isn't just about Mercedes but how the regs change and the implications, a great read.

[racechick]

Here's a bit of an incite into things Mercedes, where they are, how they got there, where they Are heading.
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/w ... this-year/

[bud]

Mercedes returned to Formula One as a fully fledged works team back in 2010 when the purchased the Championship-winning Brawn GP outfit.

So far, though, their comeback has been anything but successful with Mercedes claiming just one victory in three seasons.

And should they again fail to deliver, Stewart fears that Mercedes' staying-power could be tested which could leave Hamilton without a race-seat.

"I think Ross Brawn is a wonderful man. I think Daimler Benz is one of the greatest companies in the history of motorsport," Stewart told Autosport

"But they have to win. The Silver Arrow has to win.

"Whether it was Stirling Moss and [Juan Manuel] Fangio, whether it was [Rudolf] Caracciola and the other great drivers of the thirties, when Mercedes were in the sport they had to win.

"And if they don't win, they get out.

"That's the risk. If for whatever reason, they do not win, it's a five-minute board meeting decision with a bunch of people on the board who are not passionate about motorsport.

"They like the results if they win. If they don't win, it's yesterday. And that takes five minutes.

"If you were looking at it in a conservative fashion, you'd say 'I've got to stick with McLaren because I know they're always going to be racers'. They will never be out of motor racing."

Have to agree with Sir Jackie, there has been rumbles from Stuttgart since the get go. 2013 won't be crucial for the board but 2014 definitely, If nothing's changed I think Lewis will be looking for a new ride.

[LewEngBridewell]

It's the same with all manufacturers, apart from Ferrari. Give it a few years, and if the wins don't come, it's curtains.

[racechick]

Might change with the new regs, they're more road car friendly.

[What's Burning?]

I can't remember when was the last time I saw 1 driver sacrifice himself so much for the team progress like Schumacher did for Mercedes... That won't come without good results, but the main question is the duration of those results.

There ain't a better development driver to have.

Yes there is, PDR.

[vaptin]

I can't remember when was the last time I saw 1 driver sacrifice himself so much for the team progress like Schumacher did for Mercedes... That won't come without good results, but the main question is the duration of those results.

There ain't a better development driver to have.

Yes there is, PDR.

And Luca Badoer.

[What's Burning?]

50/50 chance, who wants to take a stab at it? Which Mercedes driver will debut the W04 in the Jerez test February 5th, Lewis or Nico?