 |
| Mercedes by Twitter |
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Hamilton to Mercedes Rumour fuels Transfer Fever
The current McLaren situation is untenable. Lewis was doing everything by the book this year and then contract negotiations got under way.
Both sides were making all the right, positive statements but Lewis's behaviour was off at Belgium.
In March 2011 I posted that Lewis was sending all the wrong messages to the team and that his only option come the end of that season might have been Schumi's seat in Mercedes.
On May 16th of that year I did a Who's going Where post based on Massa moving to Mercedes where I pointed out that Lewis had burned his bridges with Red Bull and Ferrari and that explained why he was making soothing statements with regard to his commitment to the McLaren team.
and on June 14th 2011 I was commenting on Hamilton becoming a Team liability due to his management and how they appeared to be approaching the end-of-contract negotiations which are currently underway.
In May 2011 I said
Who fills the other vacant seat at Mercedes? Webbo would feel that he could compete with Massa in equal machinery - Hamilton (while unlikely to leave McLaren given his current statements) has expressed (an unexpressed) desire to go elsewhere by way of his early criticism of the team but Mercedes might not be big enough for him, Red Bull would not take him (or would they?) after he called them fly-by-nights, and Ferrari couldn't have him (with Nadgers in the team) - basically he's ****ed from a height with regard to competitive teams - I'd day his management team have finaly realised this and hence the resulting soothing noises currently audible in the Hamilton camp.
We all remember Canada last season when Hamilton was spotted coming out of a "chat" with Christian Horner; well Eddie Jordan has stated that Hamilton's management approaches have been rebuffed at both Ferrari and Red Bull. He also said that Mercedes have agreed personal terms with Lewis to take over the Schumacher seat.
Is this another negotiation tactic by Lewis and X1X Management? If so it's a dangerous game and, given Ferrari and Red Bull are out of the equation, it might just hand control of negotiations back to McLaren.
Mercedes can pay more but will they win him championships? Would he be capable of doing a "Schuey/Ferrari" for Mercedes? Will McLaren fight hard to keep him?
It's a difficult question for me and it all hangs on whether Michael intends to retire at the end of the season. I think he will but there's a lot of interest in the seat and there'd be more in the McLaren one.
Negotiations are at a critical phase just now and perhaps to illustrate his desirability, as in May last year, Hamilton should keep his head down and his twitter finger in neutral, in order to show McLaren just why he's worth millions to the team.
Both sides were making all the right, positive statements but Lewis's behaviour was off at Belgium.
In March 2011 I posted that Lewis was sending all the wrong messages to the team and that his only option come the end of that season might have been Schumi's seat in Mercedes.
On May 16th of that year I did a Who's going Where post based on Massa moving to Mercedes where I pointed out that Lewis had burned his bridges with Red Bull and Ferrari and that explained why he was making soothing statements with regard to his commitment to the McLaren team.
and on June 14th 2011 I was commenting on Hamilton becoming a Team liability due to his management and how they appeared to be approaching the end-of-contract negotiations which are currently underway.
In May 2011 I said
Who fills the other vacant seat at Mercedes? Webbo would feel that he could compete with Massa in equal machinery - Hamilton (while unlikely to leave McLaren given his current statements) has expressed (an unexpressed) desire to go elsewhere by way of his early criticism of the team but Mercedes might not be big enough for him, Red Bull would not take him (or would they?) after he called them fly-by-nights, and Ferrari couldn't have him (with Nadgers in the team) - basically he's ****ed from a height with regard to competitive teams - I'd day his management team have finaly realised this and hence the resulting soothing noises currently audible in the Hamilton camp.
We all remember Canada last season when Hamilton was spotted coming out of a "chat" with Christian Horner; well Eddie Jordan has stated that Hamilton's management approaches have been rebuffed at both Ferrari and Red Bull. He also said that Mercedes have agreed personal terms with Lewis to take over the Schumacher seat.
Is this another negotiation tactic by Lewis and X1X Management? If so it's a dangerous game and, given Ferrari and Red Bull are out of the equation, it might just hand control of negotiations back to McLaren.
Mercedes can pay more but will they win him championships? Would he be capable of doing a "Schuey/Ferrari" for Mercedes? Will McLaren fight hard to keep him?
It's a difficult question for me and it all hangs on whether Michael intends to retire at the end of the season. I think he will but there's a lot of interest in the seat and there'd be more in the McLaren one.
Negotiations are at a critical phase just now and perhaps to illustrate his desirability, as in May last year, Hamilton should keep his head down and his twitter finger in neutral, in order to show McLaren just why he's worth millions to the team.
Lewis Hamilton Telemetry Tweet Reveals little
Given that the ill-thought- out "telemetry tweet" showing data on Lewis's and Jenson's qualifying laps in Belgium took all of the headlines from what was a stunning pole position by Button I thought, in the cold light of day, and having regard to my betters who, by definition, all know better than me what it meant I'd refer all those interested to Gary Anderson on the BBC website (Former Tech Director of Jordan F1)and to Marc Priestly at F1Elvis (Former McLaren Team Mechanic and Senior Member of the Pitstop Crew).
Gary's position is that:
While Marc's is similar:
Whilst it may not give away the secrets to the team’s success, it will be of some limited interest to other teams as they compare the data to their own and observe the differences between the two aero set ups being run by Jenson and Lewis...The most disappointing aspect for the team and those working within, will be the principal that their valuable, secret information gained through the hard work of many, has been released to the world off the back of a somewhat childish tantrum from their driver. Be assured, had a mechanic or engineer done the same thing, the consequences for that person would be far more severe.
Both of these guys make the salient point that Lewis is 27 now and not a kid anymore. Not only that but he's a world champion and one of the top driver's in one of the most successful teams.
Marc's statement about how costly the mistake would have been for any other employee only serves to highlight how important keeping all information regarding the performance of the car totally secret.
From the foregoing assessments we can assume that the collective rubbing of hands by the other teams in the paddock on foot of the tweet has cooled substantially but I'm sure that the McLaren team mechanics and engineers will still feel their ears burning every time they hear laughter as the pass the other pit garages.
Team morale will have suffered, perhaps particularly on Lewis's side of the garage, and the rumours linking him to Mercedes, along with the fact that his management had approached Ferrari and Red Bull, will not be helping.
Marc's piece where he tells of his time in the garage during Lewis's first year in F1 alongside Alonso is well worth reading as a guide to inter-team politics and gives a good sense of how the mechanics and engineers must feel operating in an environment of heightened tensions.
 |
| as Tweeted by Lewis Hamilton |
Gary's position is that:
As for the tweet on Sunday morning, when he posted a picture of a telemetry sheet containing data from his and Button's qualifying laps, that is completely unacceptable.
I have had a good look at that sheet now and, while it does not reveal anything too significant, to open up that cupboard of information just shows how naive Hamilton is, how little he understands the big picture.
F1 is about being secret squirrel.
While Marc's is similar:
Whilst it may not give away the secrets to the team’s success, it will be of some limited interest to other teams as they compare the data to their own and observe the differences between the two aero set ups being run by Jenson and Lewis...The most disappointing aspect for the team and those working within, will be the principal that their valuable, secret information gained through the hard work of many, has been released to the world off the back of a somewhat childish tantrum from their driver. Be assured, had a mechanic or engineer done the same thing, the consequences for that person would be far more severe.
Both of these guys make the salient point that Lewis is 27 now and not a kid anymore. Not only that but he's a world champion and one of the top driver's in one of the most successful teams.
Marc's statement about how costly the mistake would have been for any other employee only serves to highlight how important keeping all information regarding the performance of the car totally secret.
From the foregoing assessments we can assume that the collective rubbing of hands by the other teams in the paddock on foot of the tweet has cooled substantially but I'm sure that the McLaren team mechanics and engineers will still feel their ears burning every time they hear laughter as the pass the other pit garages.
Team morale will have suffered, perhaps particularly on Lewis's side of the garage, and the rumours linking him to Mercedes, along with the fact that his management had approached Ferrari and Red Bull, will not be helping.
Marc's piece where he tells of his time in the garage during Lewis's first year in F1 alongside Alonso is well worth reading as a guide to inter-team politics and gives a good sense of how the mechanics and engineers must feel operating in an environment of heightened tensions.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Championship Updates
Have just updated the Drivers and Constructors championships pages. Remember these do not include the Bahrain GP which I have classified as a non-championship event; not assigning points for positions.
Interestingly, there are some notable differences becoming apparent. With both Alonso and Hamilton out after the La Source "incident", Red Bull are the big winners, extending their Constructor's lead by 1, to 35 points ahead of McLaren on 199 points, who themselves have overtaken Ferrari by 8 points on the back of Jenson's first place and Alonso's failure to finish.
Since my championship negates Bahrain, Lotus' second and third place finishes there did not attract any points so Lotus are in fourth on 173 points. Mercedes are in fifth, Sauber in sixth, however Williams on 53 points remain ahead of Force India on 51 (Di Resta scores no points for sixth in Bahrain).
In the Driver's Championship Alonso leads Webber by 39 points on 158. Vettel jumps Hamilton to take third by 2 points on 115, with Kimi joining Lewis on 113 points, and Jenson's result brings him back into contention, 57 points behind the leader.
The full tablulated results are available on their respective pages on this Blog.
Interestingly, there are some notable differences becoming apparent. With both Alonso and Hamilton out after the La Source "incident", Red Bull are the big winners, extending their Constructor's lead by 1, to 35 points ahead of McLaren on 199 points, who themselves have overtaken Ferrari by 8 points on the back of Jenson's first place and Alonso's failure to finish.
Since my championship negates Bahrain, Lotus' second and third place finishes there did not attract any points so Lotus are in fourth on 173 points. Mercedes are in fifth, Sauber in sixth, however Williams on 53 points remain ahead of Force India on 51 (Di Resta scores no points for sixth in Bahrain).
In the Driver's Championship Alonso leads Webber by 39 points on 158. Vettel jumps Hamilton to take third by 2 points on 115, with Kimi joining Lewis on 113 points, and Jenson's result brings him back into contention, 57 points behind the leader.
The full tablulated results are available on their respective pages on this Blog.
Jenson Button Dominates Spa - Wins Belgian Grand Prix
Where was Jenson Button? So far ahead of the chasing pack that we hardly saw him during the Belgian Grand Prix yesterday. With so much close racing going on behind the leader the cameras were busy with the numerous fights for second all the way to ninth position. Watching Vettel fight his way through the pack on a one stop strategy, watching the changing fortunes of Michael Schumacher, who pitted late for a second stop and subsequently lost sixth gear with seven laps to go, and of Kimi Raikkonen who had put his faith in a high downforce approach which severely compromised his straight line speed in the DRS zone.
This was where the different approaches in set-up were plainly visible with cars on a high downforce setting bouncing on the rev limiter with the DRS open, but not being able to generate the speed in the zone to overtake those who had opted for the low downforce approach.
Kimi chased Schumacher down through the twists and turns at the back end of the circuit, putting him in prime position to overtake into the final chicane, or onto the start finish straight; but failing that, the run into and through Eau Rouge saw him fighting to stay with the Mercedes and unable to utilise the DRS with any efficacy. It took a stunning overtake at the bottom of Eau Rouge, enabled by Michael going wide out of Turn 1, to allow him take the position.
The biggest talking point of the race took place at the start, into Turn 1 when Romain Grosjean squeezed Lewis Hamilton towards the barriers, touching rear wheels and setting of a chain of events that left Perez, Lewis, Grosjean, and Fernando Alonso stranded in a sea of carbon fibre. It also ruined the race Kamui Kobayashi who had a poor start from second on the grid but was making up places on the outside.
Alonso was very lucky to escape injury as Grosjean's Renault flew over the front of the Ferrari at cockpit height; only a metre or so from Alonso's helmet. Today, as expected, the calls are already being made for the introduction of, the long expected, closed cockpits in the sport.
Out of the chaos Button began to disappear down the road leaving the rest of the field to fight it out for the remaining glory. It was Vettel who shone in the Belgian sun, climbing from his Q2 position of 11th to take second after a series of passes into the final chicane. Webber and Schumacher, amongst others, fell at this turn with Ricciardo giving up his position to the sister car with suspicious ease on the start finish straight.
For me this manoeuvre was the one sour moment in Vettel's race. There is something distasteful in any consideration that the Toro Rosso's might act on wider team orders, and, in my opinion, Daniel Ricciardo had been racing too strongly to allow Vettel such an easy passing move. It is a given that Vettel would have taken him eventually but, like all of the other non-Toro Rosso cars, he should have had to make a genuine passing move. Having a second team does appear to provide certain advantages to the detriment of the sport. This single incident, though I have dwelt on it, does not take anything away from Vettel who wins my joint Driver of the Day award.
Second Place goes to Kimi Raikkonen who overcame the restrictive high downforce settings to take third on the podium.
This was where the different approaches in set-up were plainly visible with cars on a high downforce setting bouncing on the rev limiter with the DRS open, but not being able to generate the speed in the zone to overtake those who had opted for the low downforce approach.
Kimi chased Schumacher down through the twists and turns at the back end of the circuit, putting him in prime position to overtake into the final chicane, or onto the start finish straight; but failing that, the run into and through Eau Rouge saw him fighting to stay with the Mercedes and unable to utilise the DRS with any efficacy. It took a stunning overtake at the bottom of Eau Rouge, enabled by Michael going wide out of Turn 1, to allow him take the position.
The biggest talking point of the race took place at the start, into Turn 1 when Romain Grosjean squeezed Lewis Hamilton towards the barriers, touching rear wheels and setting of a chain of events that left Perez, Lewis, Grosjean, and Fernando Alonso stranded in a sea of carbon fibre. It also ruined the race Kamui Kobayashi who had a poor start from second on the grid but was making up places on the outside.
Alonso was very lucky to escape injury as Grosjean's Renault flew over the front of the Ferrari at cockpit height; only a metre or so from Alonso's helmet. Today, as expected, the calls are already being made for the introduction of, the long expected, closed cockpits in the sport.
Out of the chaos Button began to disappear down the road leaving the rest of the field to fight it out for the remaining glory. It was Vettel who shone in the Belgian sun, climbing from his Q2 position of 11th to take second after a series of passes into the final chicane. Webber and Schumacher, amongst others, fell at this turn with Ricciardo giving up his position to the sister car with suspicious ease on the start finish straight.
For me this manoeuvre was the one sour moment in Vettel's race. There is something distasteful in any consideration that the Toro Rosso's might act on wider team orders, and, in my opinion, Daniel Ricciardo had been racing too strongly to allow Vettel such an easy passing move. It is a given that Vettel would have taken him eventually but, like all of the other non-Toro Rosso cars, he should have had to make a genuine passing move. Having a second team does appear to provide certain advantages to the detriment of the sport. This single incident, though I have dwelt on it, does not take anything away from Vettel who wins my joint Driver of the Day award.
Second Place goes to Kimi Raikkonen who overcame the restrictive high downforce settings to take third on the podium.
And not to take anything away from Jenson Button who was fastest in Free Practice 3, qualified for his first ever Pole Position for McLaren, and lead the field from start to finish. A great drive and a consummate performance, but so dominant that he was completely off the TV radar for the majority of the race. Never under threat, he took his single pitstop with enough time in his pocket to come back out in first position. Simply put, he drove the perfect race, consistent, fast and unchallenged. Joint Driver of the Day
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Button top dog
Fantastic qualifying pace put Button on Pole position for the Belgian GP tomorrow with Alonso back in sixth behind the two Saubers, Maldonado in the Williams and Kimi in fourth.
It could still change though with Kimi being investigated for cutting the chicane and Pastor investigated for an earlier incident involving Hulkenberg. Further down Webber takes a five place penalty from 7th for a gearbox change and what are the chances of Hamilton getting penalised for a dangerous overtaking move on Perez at the Pitlane exit
It could still change though with Kimi being investigated for cutting the chicane and Pastor investigated for an earlier incident involving Hulkenberg. Further down Webber takes a five place penalty from 7th for a gearbox change and what are the chances of Hamilton getting penalised for a dangerous overtaking move on Perez at the Pitlane exit
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)