On F1-Live.com http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090406161822.shtml As much as I'd like to see them stick it to McLaren, I'd hate to see them pull out of F1 after the start that Brawn F1 has made.
Several have noted that if the inclination to pull out was already there, the MCL mess is probably adding a lot of justification to those on the MB board of directors that want out. Might already have announced it not for the good fortunes of Brawn...
Overstated "news" report by F1-Live. Haug is basically saying that if the auto industry doesn't turn around he can't commit to Mercedes being there for the next 10 years. A little bit of a misleading headline by a site I actually like.
Mercedes isn't going anywhere. It's funny now that I think about it, but my passion for Formula 1 is probably why I drive a Mercedes product. Granted I use AT&T rather than Verizon (AKA Vodofone).
Doesn't Mercedes just make engines? With the engine freeze what work really needs to be done by Mercedes.
Maybe their engineers help to fine-tune the engines via computer for track temperature, elevation, and air density (moisture)? I would be surprised if it were just a matter of giving MCL or Brawn the raw metal pieces.
IMO this is just another case of a hack F1 journo who has nothing else to talk about so he has to invent a story out of thin air. Mercedes *already* had a board meeting planned, it was not set up to talk about the latest issue with MB/McLaren. Haug simply said it would be preferable to be winning, and that they were displeased with the latest turn of events. He said that he couldn't commit to MB being in F1 "for the next 10 years" because the economic situation is changing so quickly, and he hopes things will turn around. Then the journo who couldn't get a job writing for a newspaper, presumably, weaves this into "MB future in doubt as a Mclaren sponsor!" and tries to link it to the recent situation with Hamilton/the FIA. It really is yellow journalism at it's worst... tons of people on the grid have been the subject of these silly stories, not least of all Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, etc.
McLaren just announced they were building a replacement for the F1 roadcar, plus a P11 by 2011. A 430 type/price car. Then a P8, in the 911 range. 4000 cars a year by mid next decade. Although Ilmor motors have been badged Mercedes, I'm not sure about the current F1 motor.
Equally interesting is that Mercedes is announcing their own supercar as well. And that the numbers for both of them are about 200K rather than the 1 million mark of old.
mercedes isnt' going anywhere. they are all about bragging rights and with bmw starting to look strong (malaysia was a wash, no pun intended), but merc won't stand by and watch bmw have a prominant racing program while they race in the "lower" series.
Haug said he couldn't commit that MB would be in F1 over the next ten years. So who can commit that ANY team or sponsor would be in it that long? This is a throw away comment that someone without a life grabbed onto.
Now if a Ferrari principle had said this, then it would be some news indeed? My point being that there might just be a chance this was a signal flag to MCL to get their act together?
Ilmor was bought entirely by MB and is now known as MB HPE. The current company called Ilmor Engineering is not the same, it was the special projects division that Penske and Illien bought from MB. Meaning that if MB pulls out it's not as if someone can buy engines from Ilmor and rebadge them. MB HPE is responsible for the motors entirely.
+1 And if McLaren has been paying attention, they may have noticed that MB powered the team (car) that won the first two GPs this season and that MB doesn't need McLaren anymore (if they ever did).
Whoops. Thanks for reminding me of my advancing age. So back to the original comment; how could MB's commitment to F1 be in question? Is there a For Sale sign on the property at Woking?
They owned Chrysler, too - but that did not stop them to throw Chrysler under the bus. No, not saying that this will happen anytime soon - just saying that M-B (of all the car makers in history) know how to race and win, and also know when to fold em and walk away.
As much as some of the brethren might desire it, McLaren isn't going anywhere. MB's biggest issue with F1 at this point is PR. With the engine freeze their costs are down and with Brawn they're still behind a winner.
James, I wasn't arguing the point just trying to set the record straight. Mercedes has left Grand Prix racing before WWI & WWII and after the LeMans tragedy. So yeah, they have shown that they know how to leave.
