[Team] Mercedes: Will they ever dominate again?

[Beau2]

There was a clear failure of research and evaluation here by whomever sorts out Mercedes F1's marketing and sponsorship deals. I'm sure a simple focus group to assess whether or not to see if Kingspan would have aligned with Mercedes F1's core values and principles would have at least raised some eyebrows.

It was a questionable deal to strike at a questionable time; especially for a British based team. It would have been reasonable if they were already present on the car but this appears to be a badly timed new deal. It would have also been more acceptable if it was any other building firm and not one so highly associated with Grenfell

As someone with a Marketing background this had all the elements of a failure of insight and lack of correct evaluation.

That said, I didn't like how the press tried to implicate Hamilton in the whole ordeal last weekend. The deal was likely struck by a bunch of Marketing Executives in posh suits that he has never met.

[Knowlesy]

Well that comes with Lewis daring to speak out about other issues and upsetting Telegraph readers.

[Greem]

Channelling Kimi: Bwoah.

So Mercedes decided not to use any of their development tokens for the 2021 season. Which means their not inconsiderable design, aero, engineering and development teams will have been working flat out on the 2022 car.

That should have the other teams, mostly, very worried indeed.

[EastonNeston]

If Sir Lewis decides to retire, or take a sebattical, after the farce of Abu Dhabi, who do you expect Mercedes will sign as a replacement.

I don't think George Russell is the person to lead the team.
Perhaps Mercedes try to get Vettel from Aston Martin, or make a big money move to get Lando Norris from McLaren, especially as McLaren are seriously sort of funds.

[Derwent]

I do wonder is Lewis is almost scared of not being a F1 driver, having done if for half his life? The other senior drivers all have families and a life outside the sport but for all Lewis's "causes" he hasn't found a place to settle. How could do so much for diversity and encouraging youngsters into the sport and technology if he had the time.

[S griffin]

There's no obvious to candidate to replace Lewis at this time, if he does decide to leave. Most top drivers are contracted elsewhere and would they really want to call Bottas back?

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Greem

Channelling Kimi: Bwoah.

So Mercedes decided not to use any of their development tokens for the 2021 season. Which means their not inconsiderable design, aero, engineering and development teams will have been working flat out on the 2022 car.

That should have the other teams, mostly, very worried indeed.

Everything I have read about the relative resources the different teams have dedicated to 2022 suggests Mercedes advantage next year will be similar to 2014.I hope not.

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by S griffin

There's no obvious to candidate to replace Lewis at this time, if he does decide to leave. Most top drivers are contracted elsewhere and would they really want to call Bottas back?

They could pay off Williams and bring in Albon.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

If Sir Lewis decides to retire, or take a sebattical, after the farce of Abu Dhabi, who do you expect Mercedes will sign as a replacement.

I don't think George Russell is the person to lead the team.
Perhaps Mercedes try to get Vettel from Aston Martin, or make a big money move to get Lando Norris from McLaren, especially as McLaren are seriously sort of funds.

He won't retire, or take a sabbatical because the farce at Abu Dhabi. Throughout this season when things gave gone against him, he has come back even more determined than ever and there's still that 8th WDC to win.

[bella]

Originally Posted by S griffin

There's no obvious to candidate to replace Lewis at this time, if he does decide to leave. Most top drivers are contracted elsewhere and would they really want to call Bottas back?

nyck de vries disagrees with that statement.

[Akrapovic]

I'd buy out Gasly from his contract. His Red Bull career is going no where because they clearly don't want him in the top team. He needs to do a Sainz and go elsewhere.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Derwent

I do wonder is Lewis is almost scared of not being a F1 driver, having done if for half his life? The other senior drivers all have families and a life outside the sport but for all Lewis's "causes" he hasn't found a place to settle. How could do so much for diversity and encouraging youngsters into the sport and technology if he had the time.

I think he'd have gone if he got the 8th in all honesty. I am not sure the new cars will be all that exciting for the drivers and can't imagine he is that keen to share the track with the young headcases for too long.

I actually don't think he will find it that difficult to walk away in the end.

The new FIA president is already upset with him not attending their little party, so maybe a race ban for 2022 will bring that decision forward a year or two...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I think he'd have gone if he got the 8th in all honesty. I am not sure the new cars will be all that exciting for the drivers and can't imagine he is that keen to share the track with the young headcases for too long.

I actually don't think he will find it that difficult to walk away in the end.

I think he will walk away if he doesn't get the 8th WDC next season.

[Knowlesy]

Agreed.

[Adam43]

I don’t see anything over the last few days that really suggests anything one way or the other.

However the long seasons over many years and the BS that goes with it must take its toll. Like it did with Kimi.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I think he will walk away if he doesn't get the 8th WDC next season.

Yes, that I agree with. In fact, I think it's more likely that he'll walk away if he does. New record(s) set. Nothing more to achieve.

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

The new FIA president is already upset with him not attending their little party, so maybe a race ban for 2022 will bring that decision forward a year or two...

After the shambles in the final race that wasn't of the drivers' doing, they wouldn't dare.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

The new FIA president is already upset with him not attending their little party, so maybe a race ban for 2022 will bring that decision forward a year or two...

The rules state that ‘ANY’ competitor in the top 3 must attend the FIA Gala…

As we found out in Abu Dhabi though, ‘ANY’ does not mean ‘ALL’.

The FIA wouldn’t dare penalise Lewis after their little howler

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

The rules state that ‘ANY’ competitor in the top 3 must attend the FIA Gala…

As we found out in Abu Dhabi though, ‘ANY’ does not mean ‘ALL’.

The FIA wouldn’t dare penalise Lewis after their little howler

I know you're joking, but if you'd like the rules -

"The drivers finishing first, second and third in the championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize giving ceremony"

Lewis didn't finish first, second AND third. He only finished second. Since you cannot finish first, second AND third, nobody needs to go. You can only finish first, second OR third (or below).

Seems to me that Lewis has obeyed the rules as they are written.

[Alfaholic]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I think he'd have gone if he got the 8th in all honesty. I am not sure the new cars will be all that exciting for the drivers and can't imagine he is that keen to share the track with the young headcases for too long.

I actually don't think he will find it that difficult to walk away in the end.

The new FIA president is already upset with him not attending their little party, so maybe a race ban for 2022 will bring that decision forward a year or two...

I do like the quote from the new FIA President regarding Hamilton's absence (my bolding) https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/su...rules/6886492/

One of Sulayem's first responsibilities since taking over will be to judge whether or not Hamilton's absence from the event goes against the regulations.

Speaking about the situation in his first official press conference at president, Sulayem said: "At the end of the day, rules are rules.

"So we are going to look into the side of where the technical rules are there to be employed and was he in breach? I have to look into it."

Did Lewis take Masi's lead in interpreting the rules on attending?

[john ruston]

Sulayem from Dubai is used to rule with absolute power so life under him at FIA could be interesting.
The rally people are so much tougher than most other people in the sport but more straightforward than the politics of F1 and Dubai is not as place known for their democratic rulings.
A contrived ending at Yas which was obviously predictable when the race dictator made his final decision rather than let the best man win or he would have thrown the red flag.
Even FIA will deduce that best move is to draw a line under the last week’s escapade but will common sense prevail
Only question I would like answering is why was Perez’s car withdrawn?

[V8 Fireworks]

Mercedes: Will they ever dominate again?

I hope not!

Hopefully 2022 is an even season with Alpine, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and maybe others being equally matched.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

I hope not!

Hopefully 2022 is an even season with Alpine, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and maybe others being equally matched.

I do actually wonder, with Mr Verstappen now drinking from the cup of the highest championship in the universe... if he still has the motivation to keep pushing at that absolute level.

Mr Rosberg ran away and hid under the bed after his WDC triumph...
Perhaps fearful of a super motivated Mr Hamilton...

I hope its Mercedes 1-2 all year... with Mr Ricciardo an occasional interloper

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

I do actually wonder, with Mr Verstappen now drinking from the cup of the highest championship in the universe... if he still has the motivation to keep pushing at that absolute level.

Mr Rosberg ran away and hid under the bed after his WDC triumph...
Perhaps fearful of a super motivated Mr Hamilton...

I hope its Mercedes 1-2 all year... with Mr Ricciardo an occasional interloper

Max is about as likely to relax after 1 title as Senna and Schumacher were-or Hamilton for that matter.
Nico was a different case and a different person.He had achieved his goal in motor racing,recognised he didn’t have the outright speed of his team mate and in a nice piece of symmetry decided to retire at the same age Keke did.
So you are so offended by Michael Masi you would like to watch 23 1 team processions rather than another competitive season?Classy.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Alan52

Max is about as likely to relax after 1 title as Senna and Schumacher were-or Hamilton for that matter.
Nico was a different case and a different person.He had achieved his goal in motor racing,recognised he didn’t have the outright speed of his team mate and in a nice piece of symmetry decided to retire at the same age Keke did.
So you are so offended by Michael Masi you would like to watch 23 1 team processions rather than another competitive season?Classy.

Good summary Alan, although when Keiijo stopped at the end of '86, he was actually quite a bit older (38) than Nico was when he at the end of '16 (31).

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

I hope not!

Hopefully 2022 is an even season with Alpine, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and maybe others being equally matched.

This definitely for me. I'm looking to see Sainz, Leclerc, Gasly, Norris et al rising to the occasion from next season. We can all hope eh?