I think it's sinister and dastardly plan to eliminate the competition. They're just going to leak oil and drop shards of glass over the track, thus achieving the fastest practice time of the following day by default of being the only car not in the barriers. One of Lewis's contract demands was to be fastest in every session (test, practice, qualifying or race) and he will threaten to crash into Maldonado and Massa at every race if this isn't achieved.
Rare talk from the Chairman of Mercedes: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/d.../detroit-motor-show-mercedes-can-win-f1-title
Mercedes will unveil its 2013 Formula 1 car at Jerez on 4 February. 2013 pre-season dates Car launches Team Date McLaren January 31 Ferrari February 1 Force India February 1 Sauber February 2 Red Bull February 3 Mercedes February 4 Testing Venue Date Jerez 5-8 February Barcelona 19-22 February Barcelona 28 February-3 March
Rosberg will be the first to shakedown the new Mercedes on the filming day before the first official test.
I wonder, if Mercedes turn out another damp squib, how long it will take to see a subdued Hamilton in interviews and news reports.
Not long I reckon he will be more depressed than he was at Mclaren. No crystal ball, but I just can't see how things will logically turn around, unless they pull a rabbit out of the hat.
Lewis has said himself he is not expecting wins or title challenge. Whereas at Mclaren he was, he was let down by reliability errors and poor development early in the season.
The thing is, that's like saying that he's moved because his expectations will be met at Mercedes, whilst at the same time acknowledging that he will necessarily have to lower his expectations so low in order for them to be met. The result being that he'll be even worse off in terms of performances than he was at McLaren. So where's the benefit? I'll be happy to be proven wrong if Mercedes turn out a half decent car but, at the moment, I still can't fathom the logic behind Hamilton moving.
I think if he had won another championship or he may have stayed at Mclaren. Perhaps he was fed up of Mclaren letting him down ever since 2008 and it was reported he was falling out with team members.
I don't believe it's as simple as that Forza. Button has made less than Hamilton (and he's been in the sport twice as long) and who's the happier and more chilled out? Which one is likely to have the better machinery and resources next year out of the two of them? Mercedes might come out with an awesome package for 2014 but it's a big gamble. Surely after you've made 55 million your need for more riches is secondary to wanting to win more championships and increase your achievements for the history books?
1) Money. 2) The whole team shaped around him (not saying its a bad thing). 3) Opportunity to make himself into a huge name in history if he makes Mercedes big again. 4) 2014 rule changes may help Mercedes. That's about it I think.
Or perhaps he's gone to Merc with a big performance clause in his contact, effectively making it a one year deal.
Don't forget what happened to a certain driver in 1996 who went from a WDC winning team to a team which had no hope of winning the WDC. Everyone questioned his motives back then too, but eventually it paid off for the guy.
Lewis in Mercedes gear: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Nice coat
