Lewis to Mercedes

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Just read my thread concerning "Lewis is done" to see the vitriol thrown at me when I suggested just such a thing....

 

There was a comment from Whitmarsh after the trace episode which could have been taken as suggesting their relationship was ending and this is echoed by a line in this month's Motorsport in which he comments that Lewis has the most difficult contract in his experience (copy not to hand to give exact quote)

But as others have said its a huge investment to which to say goodbye

Also it should be pointed out that Eddie's prognostications are not very reliable

 

hahahaha I've a strong suspicion you should have been a rocket scientist.

 

I think the vein of your thread was that McLaren is firing Lewis. I actually wrote three times in the thread that I feel the relationship with McLaren is damaged goods and that Lewis would go to Mercedes if Schu retired (remember when you said "anyone can win in F1 with a good car, so McLaren should fire LH and replace him" and I commented "switch him and Rosberg from Mercedes"?).

There is no trust between McLaren and Hamilton, and that's why there is so much acrimony flaring out of late. I think pairing Hamilton with Brawn is a stroke of genius.

McLaren is left holding the bag in this case, however...they have to hitch their wagon to an aging star whose performance has turned very inconsistent.

 

As a former pro racing team owner I saw this coming

 

I wouldn't believe anything Eddie Jordan says.

 

It's EJ.. I can't see any driver being foolish enough to walk away from what he's got now to go to struggling Mercedes.

 

I can. Look at McLaren's history with high profile drivers who have left (Prost, Kimi, Montoya, Alonso, Hamilton (?)) and you'd have to think there's something in the water.

I spoke to Montoya and he absolutely hated driving for McLaren...so much so that he left F1 period due to their political influence (had nothing to do with the fact he drove his car like a battering ram, right?)

Still, it seems that their DNA has the tendency to make things toxic. I think a driver would rather be in a supportive environment with a lessor team than one where they have to question if the team is undermining them. That's been the issue with McLaren.

Also, I wouldn't bet against a pairing of Hamilton with Ross Brawn...

 

Under the assumption that the article tells the truth:
That would IMHO be the worst thing for Hamilton - as discussed countless times before, he's already focused too much on becoming a star and not on making use of his immense driving talent. If the PR angle would indeed be as important as the racing in his new deal, I see a downhill slope in his F1 future

 

As soon as I read the name Eddie Jordan I knew it was BS.

That said, I hope MS won't retire but I think he will, I think he may be a bit fed up with his car constantly going wrong.

He's proven to everyone he is the best, and at his ripe old age still hangs with guys half his age.

IF he does retire, I assume he'll announce it at Monza after the race (tradition et all) and I could see LH going to MB.

I just hope for all involved EJ is wrong .

 

Hang on a gosh darn minute here folks!..... It may be at least partially true that he, or as the article notes, "his people", have spoken with Merc. We know Mark spoke to Ferrari. They (or their people ) are all talking to each other all the time it seems to me. Mclaren are saying "negotiations are ongoing". Michael hasn't made up his mind yet.

Further, as has just been said, EJ is hardly Woodward & Bernstein in the investigation department.

It *may* happen IF the Schu decides to hang it up, but there's no way they're gonna push him out if he wants to continue.

Cheers,
Ian

 

I hope Ross Brawn and Co. are not that stupid. I do not see him fitting in well with them.


Mark

 

But Hilarious it would be...

 

I think it would be genius. Get a driver still in his prime who's pissed at his old team and has something to prove? You can't write a better script.

 

I think you have written an interesting post in the other thread:

I think we can agree that McLaren is currently better set up than Mercedes is, in terms of the teams' overall performance. If Hamilton already feels that MCL are not doing their best for him or even sabotaging him, how quickly will he come to the same conclusion at Mercedes?

 

I wouldn't have any problem seeing this happening. Schu may go and Hamilton coming in would be an excellent replacement. This may be media nonsense though

 

Mclaren's investment in Hamilton is now a sunk cost. Whitmarsh is very likely approaching the negotiation with Hamilton playing his cards as there are other driver options.

Hamilton needs a fresh start by now, he is not good with his emotions and Mercedes may be the right move for him.

It has always stroke me that Hamilton is somewhat envious of Button in a strange way. Jenson seems always content even during troubled times. Remember when Hamilton referred to Button's "happy bubble" and how he needed his.

 

+1 he always does.

I can agree with that, I do not want to pass judgement on this story, until some heavy weights confirm it, I like EJ but ...

Besides I thought Merc wanted to be as German as possible.

IMO Ham should stay put, and get himself back fully integrated in to team, and sack off the show biz side of things.

 

+1

He'd do well to hire whoever is JB's management and ditch the Hollywood nonsense. Then keep his head down and watch JB - It was only a few races back that the situations were reversed - Jenny put his head down and worked his way out of it without expelling any toys from his pram - I suspect the latter is exactly what Ron is telling him round about now.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Ian you know the score, it's hero to zero your only as good as your last race, la de dah, man alive short memories, and all that.

 

Jensen's more mature and probably easier to get along with at the team. Winning's probably not everything to him at this point in his life, so he just strikes me as a very balanced person. That has a calming influence on the team.

Lewis is still petulant and filled with piss-and-vinegar and wants to win now and often. His margin for error is slim and he feels he can win if the 'team does their part'. When things go wrong, it's because 'somebody didn't do their job' (note: He does take ownership of his mistakes too)

Also, the team settled Jensen's contract pretty quickly...don't think that doesn't play a role in all of this.

 

Wasn't JB's contract signed (for 3 years?) over a year back? I don't recall, but I think he's signed thru at least 2014, and it wasn't done recently.

Cheers,
Ian

 

If Hamilton went to Mercedes and it didn't work too well there, this could bring him some nice conspiracy ideas!

That's it.

 

now Felipe finally has a place to go!!