Mercedes planning for a time without MS?

Ferrari had to ditch Kimi if they wanted Alonso, there was a time crunch. If they want Webber/perez/DiResta/etc the time frame is wide open. Plus the #2 guy isn't as important as their #1. They even forced MS out to get Kimi!

 

Exactly my point. If he really sucked, they'd ditch him, one way or the other.

We don't know and we cannot know what goes on behind their closed doors, but logically he simply wouldn't be there if he wasn't the best driver they can get for the job at this time.

Same with Alonso. If Ferrari thought someone was better, he'd be gone.

 

I'm not sure about that. Ferrari is oddly loyal to Felipe. My point was he isn't as critical as a #1 to the team so rash decisions are not necessary (essentially telling MS to leave, paying off Kimi)...and even still they waited till the end of the year to make those decisions. When was the last time Ferrari cut someone loose mid season? Prost?

 

All true, but according to some, Massa sucked last year too, so they definitely had the opportunity to ditch him then.

I don't have an answer, obviously, my point was just that smarter people than us hire these drivers, and I'm sure they know what they're doing.

 

Senna wanted Dumfries when he was at Lotus. Sound thinking. Ask Shoe....

 

He's been having bad luck for the last 2-1/2 seasons. At some point, you can't continue to call it bad luck .

You're living in the distant past man .
Recent past and present (with Mercedes): Rosberg 1 MS 0
MB is not getting its money's worth, period. I can't see them renewing MS's contract (especially near the same rate as now) without a win and some podiums. At least not without significant internal squabbles. We'll find out soon enough .

 

Maybe they should build a car that can last a race weekend before worrying about whether or not they can "get their money's worth."

Also, even considering Schu's bad fortune, one could argue that MBZ is STILL getting its money's worth by having MS onboard. Haug has already stated such...

 

Like I said earlier, aphoristically and sophomoric are the sentiments of those who believe Michael is to blame for any of this nonsense which has befallen him this season. Michael is driving remarkably well this season, everyone who matters in F1 sees this.

Merc will never be a Sauber/FI/whatever, they are major contenders and you know it. You're a bit bipolar about Merc I've noticed, one minute if Nico is doing well you like them, the next minute if Michael's name is mentioned you hate them. They staff up to be one of the largest teams in F1, win/pole and podium at tough races, innovate, have a stupidly good brain-trust staff, top drivers are clearly interested in going to them. Interesting position you have.

Merc is raking in the dough as a company and as an F1 team with Michael around, and without Michael they will continue to do well as I have no doubt whoever takes Michael's seat will be special, whether it's Hamilton or eventually Vettel, someone big will carry the flag. That said, Merc (and F1 for that matter) want Schu there as long as possible.

He's an icon, a good guy, all the teams, people, everyone loves the guy. What's not to like with such a marketable guy like Michael? I mean really, he's a family man, humble, determined, well-spoken, a team-player, he has excellent relationships with everyone on the field, the 'people' know him and relate to him. He used to volunteer to drive Ferrari clients around Fiorano for certain cars Ferrari produced and you won't hear anyone say he wasn't a nice humble sweetheart of a fellow. He volunteers for a soccer team, he is open with the public at whatever events he attends. Does any other driver do this even close to his extent? NO. The guy is a class act and he still drives his tail off. He can do whatever he wants but the people prefer to see him driving, and more importantly succeeding, which he will as he has certainly shown he is capable of it. The question now remains if the team can build a car that will stay together for anyone but Nico.

 

Without going into too much detail, the first season was difficult, and the second season started with a huge amount of technical problems once again, and ended with Michael wiping the floor with Nico. And now this year starts with Michael driving remarkably well, but the car constantly going bust on him. HOW IS THIS HIS FAULT. PLEASE TELL ME


I'm amazed you offer a technical opinion regarding a car or a team. Please prove me wrong as I proceed -technically speaking- and advise me where I am wrong.

W03 as a technical exercise is far beyond that of just about anything on the field. Their heavy gravity suspension is the class of the field, and their aero with Willis running the show rivals Mclaren and Red Bull which is why there is so much conjecture of Hamilton wanting to move there. W03 is a very clean build and W04 will only be better. Their only reason for falling backwards is due to Michael's car falling apart in some way at every race this year. Nico was the highest scoring driver of the previous 5 races before Canada. Their staff are now out-developing the likes of Red Bull and Mclaren in the 'gear and building' race with their massive developments they have brought this year (go to F1technical and read up for proof). Point is, Nico still has a good shot at winning a WDC and as long as they can keep Michael's car together, and they can undoubtedly beat Ferrari in the WCC.

Ferrari have been an example of a joke and extreme luck as this year has proven to be a year of tire understanding rather than having a car which is actually worth anything.Their engineering was suppose to be revolutionary, and while it was certainly interesting, it was not revolutionary in any good way. Ferrari's pile is still just that, a technical pile, but they have indeed had remarkable luck and have salvaged their machine. Even Ferrari agree their pace is lacking and admitted earlier that their car was a mess.

This year in particular certainly doesn't help as every team has stated each race is a veritable craps shoot meaning nearly any team can win if they deduce the tires that weekend. How many weekends have we seen Mclarens running extremely poorly due to tires, or one or both of the Red Bulls? Mclarens/Red Bulls are great racing cars, what on earth is going on? Really now? Why are tires ruining magnificent cars? It's sad is what it is as it's making the ludicrous amount of aero work teams are putting out worthless at times because of a silly tire.


Mark my words, Ferrari's F2013 will NOT carry over much of F2012 and F2013 will be another year of rebuilding and understanding how to make a fast racing car again. F2012 is an exercise in hack and slash engineering in a season where a pile like that can actually do ok if they understand the tires a particular weekend. The car is on par with the Sauber, and strangely in the races where Ferrari perform decently, so does Sauber.

 

He won pole at Monaco. I believe this will be his crowning achievement for 2012 and I hope he finally packs it away for good, legend intact.

 

Fair enough.

I still believe he's got a few more wins in him yet, but you already know that.

However, it sounds as though you think he is / could soon be tarnishing his legacy? I have to respectfully disagree there if so. For me anyway, he can keep going until he's fifty if he wants to and it won't hurt his legacy........

Cheers,
Ian

 

I never understood that outlook either Ian, why is making a comeback tarnishing his great legacy even if he does not win another race? Nobody expected him to take pole at Monaco either but he did so the next logical step will be a win, hopefully sooner rather than later.
So many people worry about him tarnishing his legacy but the only opinion that really matters is Schumachers and it seems to be something he is not worried about nor should he be.

 

Hooray...we all agree and anyone who doesn't is stupid

So..who's going to admit to being stupid?

 

If I may please explain why you are using the term 'stupid'? I am under the assumption we are just discussing various opinions or did I miss something?

 

Just a misguided attempt at humour...sorry about that.

 

No wait...my ex said I was never fully informed AND ...I was stupid

 

Mine too! About me, not you.

 

Welcome to the club lol!

 

Welcome to it? I started it!

 

I should have known!

I am as always looking forward to progress and all that it entails from Merc/MS this weekend.

 

Another misguided attempt was another calling a team who have been out-qualifying Ferrari/RB/Mclaren and making poles at very difficult tracks a 'midfield' team lol.

Well guess what, Ferrari have had precisely zero poles this year while even the Williams bumper car team have had one. Bwah wahh.

This season is really becoming more frustrating after each race. It's such a joke to see some of these crappy cars lap a second quicker than RB, Mcl, MB, all because they simply had better luck with the TIRES of all things. This is just silly.

 

A chassis's treatment of its tires is part of the game though and always has been. The real issue/downfall imho is the decision being made for the teams as to what compound the teams are allowed to use at a specific track. The 'spirit of racing' with such behind the scenes decisions takes away from the true essence of what competition is about.

 

Right, but every weekend it's a craps shoot regarding who figured out how to run the tires thus causing whatever chassis in question to treat the tires differently every weekend.

weekend a) Sauber, Williams, and Red Bull figured out the tires and are therefore fast and have good tire degredation.

weekend b) Sauber, Williams are very slow because they did not deduce the tires, but Merc, Mclaren did; therefore, they are fast.

weekend c) It's raining and Ferrari figured out the tires, Mclaren, MB, and Williams are 40 seconds down at the end of the race

weekend d) Lotus is on the ball while Vettel can't find a setup, but Webber does, Mclaren is sort of ok, Williams is fast, Sauber slow.


We see this madness every weekend now. There is zero consistency due to the tires, cars don't matter as much as the cars for Mclaren and MB are magnificent designs and should be dominating thus reaping the benefits of their hard work but they're not, because of a tire.

It's maddening for all the teams who designed brilliant cars while it provides glimmers of joy for those who know got lucky (Williams, Ferrari, Sauber).