Mercedes F1 team to put half its workforce on 2014 car by May In an interview with the official F1 website, Wolff made it clear that 2014 will shortly have equal resources to developing the present W04. Wolff is sure most teams not at the front of the 2013 standings will follow Mercedes' example in time. But Wolff added that he did not want the 2013 championship to be neglected, and still had minimum expectations.
im looking forward to seeing how well merc do on the cooler european tracks,they should be pretty strong because they shouldnt have a problem with the rears overheating. ive also read tho that merc will be switching half of their work force onto the 2014 car,hopefully that doesnt mean they are giving up on this season.
BMW in 2008 springs to mind. It seems they'll stubbornly stick to this regardless of where they are, they could have a shot at this year's title if they worked on understanding the tyres, something they're gonna have to learn to do sooner or later anyway.
While I'm not sure they have a realistic chance at the title (here's hoping though!), they could certainly do with some practice at developing a car in contention throughout the season; they were woeful last year. As you say, understanding the tyres and and trying to ease their wear issues should also be a priority but maybe they think the tyres will be different again next year anyway. Maybe they also believe that they have the resources to do it all properly but I'd hate to see their promising season undone by obstinacy.
They would have two years of development, and 2 years of pressure. Can you imagine if they got it wrong Sgt? I just say take each year as it comes.
Good post, Max. I agree Mercedes do not have a realistic chance this year. In fact, despite their strong start, I believe their current position is both flattering and unexpected. As the inexorable development of McLaren builds, Mercedes may struggle to hold on to 4th in either Championship. I also do not believe they ever approached this season with a serious view to winning it: instead, they are very focussed on 2014. However, I very much agree with you that Mercedes need to follow the example of Hamilton's old team. McLaren have built a peculiar reputation of starting badly, but that when they do, they can be counted on to continue with improvements right up to the last race. Obviously a compromise must be struck. It is a juggling act. Teams view this differently; most tending to follow their own traditions because changing philosophy requires an enormous push*. It is this push to alter philosophy which I believe Mercedes are already focussed upon. Of course, the proof will be in the 2014 pudding where we will see the fruits of their labours and whether or not they have enough in hand to start 2015 development during their 2014 title push. - - -o0o- - - *No matter how a team set about dividing their resources, it is very difficult to alter the way in which they set out. In fact, when considering these differences in philosophy, there are none more obvious amongst front runners than McLaren and Mercedes. For McLaren, they find it very difficult to mount a realistic challenge (which they attempt every year) if they have to put aside resources for the following year as early as say, Mercedes. Mercedes do almost the exact opposite and tend to be quick to write off a title challenge pretty early. Consequently, they find it very difficult to continue to develop. In recent years, the best compromise has been found by Red Bull and Ferrari – in that order.
I was being sarcastic m8... Quiting or pulling back development is BS in my mind. You don't become successful by quiting. Just look at RBR.
lol, guff, I havn't heard that word in years. back to the topic, this is the third season Mercedes have had poor tyre management, you'd think they'd've got on top of that by now.
Mercedes F1 team will bide time over further management changes Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says he is now happy to bide his time over any further management tweaks after his team's successful start to the 2013 Formula 1 campaign. When asked by AUTOSPORT how things were panning out with Brawn, Wolff said: "Ross always says performance is power, and this is how you are being measured. "Even though the story about Paddy was a lot in the media, we are trying to have a rational proactive way of structuring our management with no knee-jerk decisions. "What we have discussed internally is all under control. Ross is in that role now and he is very efficient in that role now. "But you need to look ahead. That doesn't mean that Ross is not going to be with us, not at all, but we will probably strengthen the organisation with other people."
Or the other way round? Paddy with more Technical input and Brawn to be the figure head (with less technical input?) Who knows...
Ross needs to be on the technical side still I reckon. They have been progressing since 2010, why cut it short for Paddy?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22428532 Anyone think Mercedes could be in trouble in a year or two's time? If they curtail development early again this year the best they can hope for in the constructors' if 4th. It sounds like Daimler are getting impatient, they're expecting instant results and when their management changes don't work they poach another team principal. Their structure must be an absolute mess, it's not going to be a quick fix sorting that, and then it's going to take more time waiting for results, and then even if they get everything working nicely the other teams are so good that it might not be enough to win championships anyway. I think next season will be make or break, if they're not right at the front Daimler will probably withdraw.
Mercedes are set debut a heavily revised rear suspension package as well as new brake intakes for the next race in Monaco. In a bid to prolong the tyre life with these generation of Pirelli tyres Mercedes’ Chief boffin Aldo Costa is working with his team flat out in Brackley to turn the Silver Arrows season around. The W04 has inherent pace, 3 consecutive poles in the last 3 races (as well as a 1-2 in Spain). But come Sunday it’s not able to maintain it’s rears over the course of the race. From Canada the changes to the rear tyres whilst leaving the fronts more or less alone should help the rear limited Mercedes, but in F1 nothing is as simple as it seems. I do worry about teams bringing updates to Monaco though, as circuits go its pretty specialist with 1 off problems!
