Hamilton to Mercedes

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woof

8,456 posts

276 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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I like EJ alot as person - he's a lovely guy, however, he's never uttered anything that comes close to be correct with regards to anything in F1 for as far back as I can remember.

However, this could be a first.
Oh look there goes a pig !




MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Mini1275 said:
I just don't see why he would go there. I know McLaren have cost him a lot of points this season and probably the championship lead but it just doesn't seem a logical move.

It just doesn't seem a good move for either side really (Lewis or McLaren).

Maybe he's fed up of the increasing mistakes from McLaren. They've cost him a lot.
He's cost them a lot over the seasons too. Possibly they are fed up with him. Thought I'd mention that for you.

If, and it's a big if, this news item is true, then I welcome it for a number of reasons. Away from the McLaren cocoon that enclosed him from childhood, he will now have to stand alone on his own two feet. It could be the making of Hamilton as an even better overall performer both on and just as importantly, off the track. By the latter, I do not mean additional DNFs of which he has had more than a fair share of 'bad luck' although a good percentage were self-inflicted.

Although no way could I be certain, this news if true explains much about his performance, demeanour and behaviour over the recent weekend. In contrast to how he appeared for most of the first half of the season.
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Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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TimmieE said:
..

Has Schumacher ever said it would be Mercedes and nothing else? I know he said something along those lines when he was still a Ferrari driver. I would quite like to see him in Hamiltons seat...
or alongside Vettel.


marcgti6

1,340 posts

212 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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I think I'll take the article with a massive pinch of salt, to be honest.

After all, it has been written by Andrew (not really sure how I keep my 'Chief F1 writer' job at the BBC) Benson and has 'insider knowledge' from Eddie Jordan.

I'm really not sure what Lewis would gain by moving to Mercedes. I realise that McLaren have made some foolish mistakes that have resulted in Lewis losing numerous points this season (and previous seasons to be fair) but the Mercedes hasn't exactly been the car of the field this season, has it?

I'd like to think that McLaren will still have the quicker package next season - I hope he stays at McLaren and they can work out how to optimise their strategy on race day and cut down on silly mistakes.

I'm a big fan of Lewis and McLaren but I just can't understand why Lewis behaves like he does sometimes. It's almost as if he is deliberately trying to alienate his fans and piss McLaren off - he needs to keep his cool and learn when to keep his mouth shut. IMO.

Mini1275

11,098 posts

181 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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MGJohn said:
He's cost them a lot over the seasons too. Possibly they are fed up with him. Thought I'd mention that for you.

If, and it's a big if, this news item is true, then I welcome it for a number of reasons. Away from the McLaren cocoon that enclosed him from childhood, he will now have to stand alone on his own two feet. It could be the making of Hamilton as an even better overall performer both on and just as importantly, off the track. By the latter, I do not mean additional DNFs of which he has had more than a fair share of 'bad luck' although a good percentage were self-inflicted.

Although no way could I be certain, this news if true explains much about his performance, demeanour and behaviour over the recent weekend. In contrast to how he appeared for most of the first half of the season.
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He's cost them no more than they've cost him. He's also won them their only championship in 12 years. I do agree with you though, he's made some mistakes too (particularly last year).

I don't get your last paragraph though, apart from the data sheet I didn't see or hear him do anything wrong at Spa.

Perhaps, just perhaps, his mood was down to his close family member passing away just as he got to Spa....




The BBC or EJ have absolutely no evidence whatsoever. I'll wait for an official announcement from McLaren, Mercedes or Hamilton.


rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Mermaid said:
or alongside Vettel.
He is a good friend of Haug and it is my understanding that he gave an undertaking to him that he would not drive for anotther F1 team if he left Mercedes. My money is still on Di Resta to replace Schumacher and the Hamilton contract with McLaren will be signed in the next two weeks.

However...this is all assuming that Hamilton hasn't had a major barney with RD yesterday and that Mercedes haven't been very clever with the timing of their approach...this certainly isn't the silliest of stories in 2012.

weyland yutani

1,410 posts

163 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Even when McLaren have a bad car they can still win races. Other than the "flash in a pan" win in China, Mercedes have been nowhere since entering as a full works team. Since the door at Ferrari and RBR are shut, Hamilton would be mad to leave McLaren if he wants to win more races and championships.

Crafty_

13,248 posts

199 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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TimmieE said:
Personally I don't see Hamilton staying at McLaren. Mercedes could be a good option for him, as would Ferrari. I can't see any other cars fighting for wins next year. Maybe Lotus, but they will want to keep their current drivers.

How many wins and points have Merc got this season ?

The team are pretty awful at strategy this year and haven't got a grip on the tyres at all.
Mercedes are scaling back their involvement and no doubt their budget. If it continues the way they've been going will they still be around in a couple of years ?

Apart from 2009 the team have never really accomplished much as BAR or Honda.

Meantime McLaren have a pretty solid financial basis and have ever increasing engineering capability learnt through F1, their electronics business and the road car business. Since Hamilton started driving for them they've always been a top team even if they've been found a bit lacking at certain times.

I think he'd be barmy to leave personally.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Kubica to McLaren! biggrin You heard it here first.

sanf

673 posts

171 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Crafty_ said:
TimmieE said:
Personally I don't see Hamilton staying at McLaren. Mercedes could be a good option for him, as would Ferrari. I can't see any other cars fighting for wins next year. Maybe Lotus, but they will want to keep their current drivers.

How many wins and points have Merc got this season ?

The team are pretty awful at strategy this year and haven't got a grip on the tyres at all.
Mercedes are scaling back their involvement and no doubt their budget. If it continues the way they've been going will they still be around in a couple of years ?

Apart from 2009 the team have never really accomplished much as BAR or Honda.

Meantime McLaren have a pretty solid financial basis and have ever increasing engineering capability learnt through F1, their electronics business and the road car business. Since Hamilton started driving for them they've always been a top team even if they've been found a bit lacking at certain times.

I think he'd be barmy to leave personally.
Think back to Schui signing for Ferrari, and then working with Ross Brawn - taking them from no-where to multiple titles.

Perhaps Merc know Schui is going, and feel that Nico won't cut it, so are offering the "we'll build a team around you package", a la Ferrari (Alonso) and even Red Bull (Vettel) to an extent. Could be Lewis wants to get out of Macca and try something fresh. After Benie's 'Schui-gate' interview, did wonder if maybe some wheels were turning to move Lewis to Merc.

Just a thought, makes a good story, even if it's all wrong....type

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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BBC Radio5LIve are headlining this news every few minutes. Mind you, they also quote both McLaren and Mercedes :~

McLaren said:
.
Negotiations are ongoing
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Mercedes said:
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No comment
.
So, pretty conclusive statements ...... looks like job done ... or not ..hehe

Hamilton certainly looked like someone with a lot more than usual on his mind when speaking to the cameras over the weekend. Not just the news about a relative, but he seemed preoccupied ...... maybe he's already made up his mind and just a few loose ends to tie. That Twitter mullarkey was well out of line based on his previous form with the media over the years.
.





Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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sanf said:
Could be Lewis wants to get out of Macca and try something fresh.
^ This.

TheHeretic

73,668 posts

254 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Mermaid said:
sanf said:
Could be Lewis wants to get out of Macca and try something fresh.
^ This.
Could see him benefitting from it, to be honest. It would be interesting to see how he does at a team with fewer expectations.

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

215 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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It would certainly be a bold move. I'm sure it's not a wise one.

Crafty_

13,248 posts

199 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
sanf said:
Think back to Schui signing for Ferrari, and then working with Ross Brawn - taking them from no-where to multiple titles.

Perhaps Merc know Schui is going, and feel that Nico won't cut it, so are offering the "we'll build a team around you package", a la Ferrari (Alonso) and even Red Bull (Vettel) to an extent. Could be Lewis wants to get out of Macca and try something fresh. After Benie's 'Schui-gate' interview, did wonder if maybe some wheels were turning to move Lewis to Merc.

Just a thought, makes a good story, even if it's all wrong....type
The difference is that at the time F1 wasn't a moving target, with constant regs and tyre changes its a fast moving target nowadays, also Ferrari had a metric bottomload of money to do it with.
Todays F1 is more complicated and a damm sight more expensive and I don't think Merc are going to have the budget (and maybe expertise) to build a team around anyone.

I agree its an interesting story but it doesn't make any sense to me.. which probably means he'll be announced there soon hehe

baz1985

3,598 posts

244 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Remember back in late 2005- mid 2006, when Uncle Ron thought he was still negotiating with Kimi, but he had already signed for the Scuderia. Could be something similar?

TimmieE

17 posts

152 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Crafty_ said:

How many wins and points have Merc got this season ?

The team are pretty awful at strategy this year and haven't got a grip on the tyres at all.
Mercedes are scaling back their involvement and no doubt their budget. If it continues the way they've been going will they still be around in a couple of years ?

Apart from 2009 the team have never really accomplished much as BAR or Honda.

Meantime McLaren have a pretty solid financial basis and have ever increasing engineering capability learnt through F1, their electronics business and the road car business. Since Hamilton started driving for them they've always been a top team even if they've been found a bit lacking at certain times.

I think he'd be barmy to leave personally.
I agree staying at Mclaren is probably best for Hamilton performance wise. I've just got a feeling that either he wants something else or Mclaren don't want to sign him. If both parties wished to continue I think a deal should and would have been made a couple of weeks ago.

Mercedes has been average at least as you say but there is no denying the potential. Substantial budget (for now), multiple highly rated tech. dir. etc.
If indeed Mercedes are pulling out, the situation becomes completely different again.

patmahe

5,744 posts

203 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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I don't think we can trust EJ's say so on this, lovely man but he's not the most reliable in these situations is he smile

Remember when Massa was nearly killed by a flying piece of Barrichello's car and EJ proclaimed shortly afterwards live on air that he'd just heard Massa was just a little shook but basically ok or something similar, not the most trustworthy source our EJ wink

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Of all the global car manufacturers, Mercedes are second only to VW in terms of financial health. They have the budget which is why this rumour really does have legs. Given the timing of BCE's comments, the issue over that tweet and the stage of the McLaren negotiations, the timing of an approach to Hamilton does seem serendipitous...and bloody clever from Mercedes!

SRT77

676 posts

217 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Personally I'd rather see Hamilton retire altogether and Schumi stay on. I still feel Schumi craves a bit more success.

Seriously Merc is not the top team that Hamilton feels he deserves and why would Merc want such an immature character.
Just how would Hamilton have dealt with all of the endless mechanical issues that Schumacher has had this year. The pile of discarded toys would be huge.

As for Eddie Jordan, let's just say I'm enjoying the Sky coverage much more than I thought I ever would.
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