More pertinently, what was that guy's name who quit a team after winning back-to-back WDC's, for a team that hadn't won a title in over 20 years? How did that work out for him?
Even if it didn't work out: Some folk just don't get it, I find it hilarious, the guy has just acquired all the money he could ever spend in his life doing something he loves, and some think that is a failure.
+1 Wish I could "fail" in such a way! I guess it's not so much I'm anti Lulu as anti Maccy-L. I genuinely wish him well having stepped from the womb he's been in forever. As the Viz noted, a little shake up seldom does harm and certainly gives us another point of comparison - We'll see if the Young Lad is any good at least....... Cheers, Ian
True, but I really hope he knows something about Mercedes that the rest of us don't. As I've said before, when you drill down to the past and present history of Formula One, two teams stand out as dominant: Ferrari and McLaren. What Hamilton is probably hoping for is a magical formula akin to Red Bull, Renault, or Ferrari when it rebuild around Schumacher (led by Brawn). I'm as skeptical as the next guy on this...I can't see how he will cement his legacy as a great driver, but I'm on the outside looking in. Maybe Brawn has discovered something from this year's mediocre car that represents a quantum leap forward. We'll see...
He's only signed a 3 year contract, and with all probability it will have performance related escape clauses. I hardly think it will be the end of his career if this move doesn't work out, like how his detractors are always claiming. Let me put it this way: was Fernando screwed for life after he burned his bridges with McLaren and returned to Renault?
I tend to think they know something the rest of us don't...I wouldn't bet against Brawn/Merc/Hamilton having a go at it in 2013.
All So true, except I need no convincing how good he is.. It is going to be interesting for sure to watch this unfold, realistically IMO 2114, he will be in contention and fighting for his 2 WDC, in car that matches the usual suspects. +1 I was going to quote the Alonso returning to Renault years, it never made me think he turned into a worse driver quite the opposite, and he was under fire from folk saying he couldn't develop ect.
He already has all the money he needs, they all do (even Webber). I very much doubt this move was about money, if it was he would have stayed at McLaren as they countered to match the offer. I think this move was about LH clearing making his mark and that it's not just the McLaren/LH pairing that can win. This will be very exciting to watch and I can't wait to next year now. This season is a yawn fest with a WDC determined by simply finishing (which yes takes skill), but there will not be any white knuckle battles in the remaining races as the cars are too dissimilar in performance and Clifford can't take the battle to the others, so gather points it is. Next year we will have an impatient LH trying to prove he has made the right decision, could be many bent cars or run away wins, but guaranteed drama. Bernie must be involved! Pete
I don't think Hamilton was looking at Mercedes per se, or their history. I would think Hamilton was looking at Brackley, and who's leading the design and engineering teams there - Brawn, Costa, Bell, etc. Last year and 2 years ago, Mercedes went out and hired the top designers and engineers available - aside from Adrian Newey, Mercedes scooped many of the big names with proven success records at Ferrari, Renault, McLaren. They didn't have much impact on this year's car, but they are all fully reorganized, engaged, and focused on next year's car. Remember how Honda built up their tech staff in 07/08, then wrote off 2008 to focus early on developing their 2009 car? That 2009 Honda/Brawn car had more engineering development work behind it than any of the other 2009 cars, and it paid off at the first tests when it was a second/lap faster than RB, Ferrari, McLaren, etc. Remember who spearheaded that restaffing and development work? New Honda Tech Director Ross Brawn... So I doubt Mercedes AG had much to do with Hamilton's decision at all - I'd bet that it was who Ross Brawn introduced him to in the Brackley offices, and showed him what they had in the works for 2013; and Hamilton would have known who McLaren has in their design offices, and what they have in the works for 2013. It's a roll of the dice, sure - but I don't think Hamilton is a fool, and I think Brawn would have made a pretty good case for their new, improved design/engineering team that actually does have a very good track record in F1.
That's what I mean by the 'repeat of Ferrari when they built around Schumacher'. It's still a risk because Merc has been at best a 2nd-tier team the past two seasons, but past is not necessarily precedent in F1. We'll see how it all plays out...
it's a very good point to say that ross brawn is able to turn that team into a winning one, and sometimes that takes a season or two to accomplish mclaren alrady has said they offered hamilton lots of $, and brawn already stated they didn't offer more than hamilton was already making IMO hamilton (and his collective management, father, manager) have made some consideration about where he wants his career to go, and this seemed like a good opportunity for one, i am excited to see how next season will start, with some renewed efforts from ferrari, mercedes, and the field
True regards to money. I'am glad it has perked your interest back up in F1, Bernie yes I'm convinced he wanted this to happen, a great ring master is old Bernie. Hamilton, I just don't know how he will fair right now to be honest, all I know is you cannot polish a turd, however give him a half decent car, and he will put it on the podium. Whether Merc/Brawn ect can do this in a short time, is anyone's guess. Personally IMO he really needs to just put his head down and forget all about the glitz and glam BS, and focus a 100% in getting the job done at Merc, and give it his best shot. Then either way he has my respect for trying.
The last man to polish a turd was Ross Brawn when he bought the last remains of Honda and turned out Brawn GP when all thought it was over. Not forgetting the then almost washed up driver JB. Who saw 2009 Brawn GP coming, I didn't. I do hope lightning strikes twice. An exiting 2013 awaits.
The argument, if you chose to believe it : The BGP001 was a great car. But it wasnt a Brawn. It wasnt even a Honda. It was a Super Aguri, mostly with a dash of Dome and some sprinkles added at Tochigi and a touch of Brackley seasoning. It was the Super Aguri that never was, with a Mercedes engine shoehorned into the back. The folks at Brackley hadnt designed the car, so how could they be expected to either understand or provide sufficient updates to it? But they played a good game, and Mercedes was so impressed that it jumped in with both feet for 2010. But what it got in 2010 wasnt another GBP001. Because the BGP001 hadnt come out of Brackley. It had come out of Leafield, Maihara and Tochigi. I do hope Merc gets it's act together and gets down to being a tight knit team, and keeping the big Merc board chiefs out of the business end of making a good car, too many cooks spoil the broth..
Oh and my above ^ post is not knocking Ross Brawn in any shape or form, I think he is a fantastic bloke, and very shrewd business man, full marks to him.
Lets not give Brawn all the credit. Honda had been working on that car for almost 2 years by the time Ross took over the team. I believe Button would still be WDC had Honda stuck around for another year.
But Honda didn't stick around and it was Ross Brawn who managed to get a supply of Mercedes engines that, along with the double diffuser concept, carried Jenson to his WDC (just!). It was also Brawn who had spotted the benefits of using the double diffuser concept and warned the FIA about it. The FIA did nothing to ban the concept and so Brawn GP made full use of it.
Doesn't change the fact that Honda had designed the car. Of course I'm not taking away anything from Ross.
