Lewis visits Ferrari this week

[Dunit]

See Lewis was a the red car factory this week, Shopping? for a supercar

[Galileo]

He might as well jump to Ferrari next year, if that's what your intimating. He hasn't got a prayer of winning the Championship this year.

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

[Gillett66]

Galileo said:

He might as well jump to Ferrari next year, if that's what your intimating. He hasn't got a prayer of winning the Championship this year.

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

If he's a good as we think he won't leave it to chance.

Hamilton can win this Championship, and probably will.

[anonymous-user]

Galileo said:

He might as well jump to Ferrari next year, if that's what your intimating. He hasn't got a prayer of winning the Championship this year.

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

As he was specifically brought to the 'German' team by its quasi german Chairman, who was engaged specifically to do that, I think they wouldn't mind who wins it.

The team don't care about who wins as long as one of them does.

[StevieBee]

Galileo said:

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

Will make not one jot of difference to sales of their cars in Germany. Their growth targets are the middle east, India, the US.....places where LH has a far greater following.

[Derek Smith]

StevieBee said:

Will make not one jot of difference to sales of their cars in Germany. Their growth targets are the middle east, India, the US.....places where LH has a far greater following.

Not doubting you in any way, but where does this info come from? I'm interested.

[StevieBee]

Derek Smith said:

StevieBee said:

Will make not one jot of difference to sales of their cars in Germany. Their growth targets are the middle east, India, the US.....places where LH has a far greater following.

Not doubting you in any way, but where does this info come from? I'm interested.

I do work (albeit in an entirely different field) in these places and the market for premium brands such as Mercedes is opening up at a considerable rate. These companies are now focusing growth in these regions as the home and near market is more about maintaining brand loyalty and brand transfer rather than absolute growth - though of course this remains important. If you look at places like India, the rise of the wealthy middle classes is almost squaring with each day and the UK Trade and Investment department provide regular briefings on who's doing what and the likes of Mercedes crop up in these briefings very regularly with new dealerships opening here there and everywhere.

Working as I do in these sorts of places, I can tell you that almost everybody I speak to has heard of Lewis Hamilton but very few know Rosberg.

I guess the point is that for the F1 team, they're in a win-win situation. Of course it would be good in Germany four Rosberg to win the WDC but equally so globally if Lewis took the title.

[carinaman]

REALIST123 said:

Galileo said:

He might as well jump to Ferrari next year, if that's what your intimating. He hasn't got a prayer of winning the Championship this year.

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

As he was specifically brought to the 'German' team by its quasi german Chairman, who was engaged specifically to do that, I think they wouldn't mind who wins it.

The team don't care about who wins as long as one of them does.

Didn't Daimler-Benz pay Hamilton's retainer when he was at McLaren?

That reminds me of the tale about some Ford jnr. looking through the Ford wages bill and asking 'Who is this Eddie Irvine guy?'

[rdjohn]

StevieBee said:

Galileo said:

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

Will make not one jot of difference to sales of their cars in Germany. Their growth targets are the middle east, India, the US.....places where LH has a far greater following.

While I think both of these statements are valid, it is important to remember that Mercedes GP was initially set up to achieve the double. It is just that neither Shuey, or the car worked out.

Lewis says it was Ross Brawn who sat down for tea at his mother's kitchen table and persuaded him to join them. He is gone so I suspect that Plan A has been brushed off given that Merc now know for certain they are in for the WCC already.

[revrange]

carinaman said:

Didn't Daimler-Benz pay Hamilton's retainer when he was at McLaren?

That reminds me of the tale about some Ford jnr. looking through the Ford wages bill and asking 'Who is this Eddie Irvine guy?'

Yeap, and paid 50% of his young driver costs, he was as much a merc driver as mclaren

[belleair302]

Many moon's ago at the Ford AGM somebody asked about Eddie and his US $ 10 million per annum salary. The board looked somewhat bemused and kept very silent admitting later that it was something they had inherited and not created.

[carinaman]

belleair302 said:

Many moon's ago at the Ford AGM somebody asked about Eddie and his US $ 10 million per annum salary. The board looked somewhat bemused and kept very silent admitting later that it was something they had inherited and not created.

I am sure he spent it wisely.

[burwoodman]

Galileo said:

He might as well jump to Ferrari next year, if that's what your intimating. He hasn't got a prayer of winning the Championship this year.

There is no way Mercedes will give up the chance of a German winning in a German car.

utter crap

[onyx39]

carinaman said:

I am sure he spent it wisely.

On fast cars drink and women, the rest he wasted.
I realise that was George Best, but I suspect equally relevant!

[DanielSan]

onyx39 said:

On fast cars drink and women, the rest he wasted.
I realise that was George Best, but I suspect equally relevant!

Invested a big chunk of it well also, he's apparently made more since he left F1 than what he event while he was racing.

[andyhunt182]

I don't think he'll be signing a Ferrari contract unless Alonso goes the other way. Personally as a Ferrari fan I wouldn't like to see him there, I don't doubt his pace, I just feel he's a poor decision maker under pressure plus Di Montezemelo has always said he wants Vettel in a few years time.

I think he was probably there for some retail therapy.

[onyx39]

andyhunt182 said:

I don't think he'll be signing a Ferrari contract unless Alonso goes the other way.

Does Alonso bat for the other team too then?