Hey guys, So, take that with a grain of salt. I just got the information that Mercedes will also announce their departure as a F1 team, but will remain as an engine supplier. The source is a highly-respected and experienced personality from the motorsport world and somewhat connected to Mercedes F1. He/she is a person of few words and that is not known to speak about suppositons or gossip.
****!!! I wanted to beat them before they leave. Now they´ll have the exucse of "oh, well, it was the chassis".
I think it's common knowledge that Mercedes will never stay for ever in F1. That's not a strategy for a car manufacturer; they come and go all the time. It's the timing that is interesting: they have just signed a new Concorde Agreement.
I forgot an important detail on my original post: the source didn't mention the date of the announcement, so could be this year, could be next year.
Indeed, but nothing precludes Daimler to sell the F1 team. I'm very confident that Toto Wolff will buy it.
It's the same for Renault. You can expect an announcement of them quitting any time. An AGM that goes wrong, shareholders attacking the CEO for reduced dividends, etc .., and the next thing they will announce they close their F1 team. Honda, Ford, BMW, Toyota, Peugeot, they are all in the same boat; they depend from the economic climate.
I don't think Mercedes would sold its F1 team for a song like Honda did back in 2008 when Ross Brawn took over.
They have an exit for free clause, they can leave when they want. Liberty Media probably is regretting it now.
This was also announced last October 2 ! Then a few months later they were sold to Penske...... Or not
Or they were only getting them to sign so that others would also sign. I’d assume they are well informed about any intent by Mercedes to leave
F1 offers a well structured championship that visits 21 different countries and goes almost all year round. It offers at least 180 hours of worldwide TV coverage per year, plenty of mention in the media and the motoring press. F1 gives added prestige to constructors, and also acts as an extension of their R&D department. It's also the summit, being a limited circle of 20 drivers only and represents the sporting elite I don't think any other series can match that. F1 is the benchmark in motor racing.
To a point. Some r and d may be applied in passenger cars, but I think most is wasted, look at vehicle aerodynamics, probably biggest r and d expenditure, and has little real world application. Better to free regulations, staying within some broad guidelines, than the aoc series we already have. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I can't think of a single manufacturer whose sales would hurt noticeably if they weren't in F1 anymore. That includes Ferrari.
To be fair, all racing series is struggling the same, or even more, than F1. The current formula has many flaws, but the circumstances aren't helping.
Mercedes to take major Aston Martin stake as part of new technical partnership https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/mercedes-take-major-aston-martin-stake-part-new-technical-partnership First this. Then in 2022 Mercedes will announce it's leaving F1 as a team, and Stroll will absorb Brackley's top talent in his quest to make his son world champion.