Mercedes

Author
Discussion

RDMcG

19,142 posts

207 months

Wednesday 29th January 2020
quotequote all
Would not surprise me ( no knowledge of whether true), but Daimler-Benz wants to be a brand with lots of EVS and a good environmental profile. F1 with is huge air travel, massive cost, fuel consumption etc is not really supportive of that strategy.

I think the issue will ultimately be big for F1 as a whole.

I am no chestbeating Greenpeacer, but I do worry that these movements are gaining momentum faster than I expected.

Very glad I went to a lot of races.

TheDeuce

21,558 posts

66 months

Wednesday 29th January 2020
quotequote all
Well... At this point I feel the need to repeat that I'm in no way debating this story on the basis of it being fact! It could be nonsense.

But again I will say, that for some reason this one rings vaguely true and I'm very much leaning that way... Ties together a lot of loose ends! Starts to make sense in a slightly abstract way. Maybe we're looking at nonsense here, or maybe we're looking at just another example of the sort of coming together of interests and money that has attended the changing hands of F1 teams since day one.

Cold

15,247 posts

90 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
Aston may not be putting a single dollar in, or even need to. They could simply be lending their name to the effort without any money changing hands in a similar way to Lotus a few years ago.

TheDeuce

21,558 posts

66 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
Cold said:
Aston may not be putting a single dollar in, or even need to. They could simply be lending their name to the effort without any money changing hands in a similar way to Lotus a few years ago.
There is zero way they have a dollar to spare. Read the story in full.. if true it would equal an acquisition of Aston Martin. The F1 effort would add value to Aston, not the other way round.

Exige77

6,518 posts

191 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
RDMcG said:
Would not surprise me ( no knowledge of whether true), but Daimler-Benz wants to be a brand with lots of EVS and a good environmental profile. F1 with is huge air travel, massive cost, fuel consumption etc is not really supportive of that strategy.

I think the issue will ultimately be big for F1 as a whole.

I am no chestbeating Greenpeacer, but I do worry that these movements are gaining momentum faster than I expected.

Very glad I went to a lot of races.
Is the Formula E circus sent everywhere by the internet ? Just checking.

davidd

Original Poster:

6,452 posts

284 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
There is zero way they have a dollar to spare. Read the story in full.. if true it would equal an acquisition of Aston Martin. The F1 effort would add value to Aston, not the other way round.
Would it actually add value? They would get exposure but you could argue that they get exposure on the Aston Martin Red Bull, which gets lots of coverage. Would the additional exposure be worth it? I appreciate they want to ramp up car sales but is f1 the right route to their market (their market being bloated SUVs it would seem).

I can see Mercedes wanting some sort of exit at some point. Toto, given the right backing would be a massive asset to any team. The Lewis/Toto partnership even more so. Stroll is clearly a very smart operator. Aston need cash.

We could widen the net. Williams also need cash, there are mutterings at Renault. Maybe Stroll will buy everything!

rdjohn

6,180 posts

195 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
My guess is that the only reliable bit of the article is that there will be a board meeting in February.

And they will decide to stay in F1, on the basis of, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

davidd

Original Poster:

6,452 posts

284 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
My guess is that the only reliable bit of the article is that there will be a board meeting in February.

And they will decide to stay in F1, on the basis of, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Agreed

Deesee

8,421 posts

83 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
davidd said:
rdjohn said:
My guess is that the only reliable bit of the article is that there will be a board meeting in February.

And they will decide to stay in F1, on the basis of, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Agreed
They even got that bit wrong, no meeting..

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-mercede...

davidd

Original Poster:

6,452 posts

284 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
Deesee said:
They even got that bit wrong, no meeting..

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-mercede...


Ah they are denying it, so it must be true (I sat next to Bernie once, I think I'm getting the hang of this misinformation lark).

Deesee

8,421 posts

83 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
davidd said:
Deesee said:
They even got that bit wrong, no meeting..

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-mercede...


Ah they are denying it, so it must be true (I sat next to Bernie once, I think I'm getting the hang of this misinformation lark).
Ah ha, no truth until the official denial hehe

TheDeuce

21,558 posts

66 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
davidd said:
Deesee said:
They even got that bit wrong, no meeting..

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-mercede...


Ah they are denying it, so it must be true (I sat next to Bernie once, I think I'm getting the hang of this misinformation lark).
Read it again.. all Ola has technically confirmed is that Mercedes are not considering leaving F1 and that leaving F1 is not being discussed at the next board meeting.

As an already signed up engine suppler, both are true. Perhaps he was too short on time for the crucial words 'and we're not selling the team'...

Derek Smith

45,661 posts

248 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
Read it again.. all Ola has technically confirmed is that Mercedes are not considering leaving F1 and that leaving F1 is not being discussed at the next board meeting.

As an already signed up engine suppler, both are true. Perhaps he was too short on time for the crucial words 'and we're not selling the team'...
Indeed. Being an engine supplier to customer teams is not leaving F1.

In chatting with a friend yesterday evening we can to the unevidenced conclusion that Merc will move to EVs. However, much will depend on the 2021 regs I think.

We were also in agreement that if they leave, it might signal the fall of F1 from the multi-£million business it is at the moment. If there is a drop off in money supply then what everyone wanted, back to the old days, might well come about. If that happens, then those who were really hoping for this will no longer follow F1.


Mellow Yellow

888 posts

262 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
davidd said:
Deesee said:
They even got that bit wrong, no meeting..

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-mercede...


Ah they are denying it, so it must be true (I sat next to Bernie once, I think I'm getting the hang of this misinformation lark).
Read it again.. all Ola has technically confirmed is that Mercedes are not considering leaving F1 and that leaving F1 is not being discussed at the next board meeting.

As an already signed up engine suppler, both are true. Perhaps he was too short on time for the crucial words 'and we're not selling the team'...
Agreed, it hardly contradicts the Autocar article, doesn't even say it won't be discussed the the next board meeting, just that the next board meeting isn't on the 12th Feb.

dreamcracker

3,216 posts

217 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
My guess is that the only reliable bit of the article is that there will be a board meeting in February.

And they will decide to stay in F1, on the basis of, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Why bother with a board meeting when Eddie Jordan told us months ago that
Lewis and Toto are going to Ferrari. spin

TheDeuce

21,558 posts

66 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
Derek Smith said:
TheDeuce said:
Read it again.. all Ola has technically confirmed is that Mercedes are not considering leaving F1 and that leaving F1 is not being discussed at the next board meeting.

As an already signed up engine suppler, both are true. Perhaps he was too short on time for the crucial words 'and we're not selling the team'...
Indeed. Being an engine supplier to customer teams is not leaving F1.

In chatting with a friend yesterday evening we can to the unevidenced conclusion that Merc will move to EVs. However, much will depend on the 2021 regs I think.

We were also in agreement that if they leave, it might signal the fall of F1 from the multi-£million business it is at the moment. If there is a drop off in money supply then what everyone wanted, back to the old days, might well come about. If that happens, then those who were really hoping for this will no longer follow F1.
As a car producer, their path is electric. They're putting unbelievable resources in to that future, they want to get it more right than VAG or BMW.

That does not in itself mean remaining in F1 makes no sense for them, but there is always going to be a question of when is best to leave. At the end of this season, all being well, as a team they're the outright record holders in terms of consecutive (and double) titles. Beyond that with the new regs it's all less certain, and the only way is down. That still doesn't mean there is no value in competing in the sport.. but if they had any intention of selling the team in the next ten years even, then the end of this year would be the best time to sell it. Walk away undefeated having set the new records and sell the team at the height of its powers, and by extension value.

The perfect exit strategy would be the final glowing achievement of their F1 project.


sparta6

3,698 posts

100 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
Whatever happens, if it results in Mercedes wearing the German flag instead of a Union Jack, that will be a good thing biggrin

Are Renault now wearing the French flag for 2020 ?

davidd

Original Poster:

6,452 posts

284 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
So we have decided that Stroll isn't getting involved with Mercedes. Looks like he might well buy into Aston which gives us 'Poinless Aston Martin Racing F1'. Which he really could do a lot with.

I wonder if he could talk Toto into moving...

rdjohn

6,180 posts

195 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
davidd said:
So we have decided that Stroll isn't getting involved with Mercedes. Looks like he might well buy into Aston which gives us 'Poinless Aston Martin Racing F1'. Which he really could do a lot with.

I wonder if he could talk Toto into moving...
Once Laurence realises that Lance is not destined to be the next Lewis, Charles, or Max, does anyone seriously think he will not be looking at an exit strategy - like selling RP to Aston Martin.

If only AM could sell cars as fast as they can make them, there could even be a whisper of logic in them buying RP.

The car industry is in turmoil. So people speculate on crazy possible outcomes. Fake News describes this tosh perfectly.

TheDeuce

21,558 posts

66 months

Thursday 30th January 2020
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
Once Laurence realises that Lance is not destined to be the next Lewis, Charles, or Max, does anyone seriously think he will not be looking at an exit strategy - like selling RP to Aston Martin.

If only AM could sell cars as fast as they can make them, there could even be a whisper of logic in them buying RP.

The car industry is in turmoil. So people speculate on crazy possible outcomes. Fake News describes this tosh perfectly.
Do you know how AM are managing to sell the DB11 for just £150k? Surely each car they sell slaps them with an EU CO2 fine, which I would have thought would force the price up more.

I think they also seriously damaged their reputation with the previous gen of cars starting out of date tech wise, and being sold for so long they were dinosaurs. The new merc based cars address that at least, although no doubt that isn't a cheap arrangement for AM.

I could just about see AM doing better by selling the cars for more money, less than 1000 units a year and heading more down the McLaren route - 'if' they were title sponsors and/or owners of an F1 team. It could make some sense and allow them to sell less units for far greater prices, perhaps..

Edited by TheDeuce on Thursday 30th January 19:03