Mercedes' new bosses are not responsible for the German marque's apparently sudden speed boost. That is the claim of former team driver Michael Schumacher, referring to the removal of Norbert Haug and the installation of new co-owners and chiefs Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff.
The Brackley based team had a very strong end to the recent pre-season period, but Schumacher said: "I see it more to do with the background. (To do) with the engineers, the infrastructure of the team itself. And I think these steps were taken some time ago," added the great German. Although team boss Ross Brawn's future now appears very clouded, Schumacher is undoubtedly referring to the Briton's decisions to bring in the likes of technical boffins Bob Bell, Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis.
Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger agrees. "I do not think those two (Lauda and Wolff) have been able to have any influence on the performance of the car," he told APA news agency. "Why? Because this (2013) car predates their time. But we must not underestimate the impact of fresh wind."
Another pundit, the 1996 world champion Damon Hill, thinks Mercedes' boosted form is due to the team spending more time than usual last year designing the 2013 car. "I think Ross Brawn had decided 'Listen, this year is a write-off'," he told the Sun. "By the looks of things they'd been focussing on 2013 (last year) and pretty much shelved 2012. They'd looked worse than they are," added Hill.
Order the latest Mercedes merchandise here!
New bosses not responsible for Mercedes boost - pundits
- Published on 13 Mar 2013 15:59
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Why Bortoleto says Verstappen isn't being slowed by 2026 rulesGabriel Bortoleto has pushed back against a growing narrative that Formula 1's new regulations are slowing elite ...
24 Jul 2026 16:21 -
Why more drivers are siding with Verstappen on F1's rule problemMax Verstappen has renewed his attack on Formula 1's current regulatory framework, claiming vindication as paddoc...
24 Jul 2026 15:20 -
Aston Martin's huge Hungary upgrade has one clear goalAston Martin will introduce a comprehensive aerodynamic and weight-saving package at the Hungarian Grand Prix with a ...
24 Jul 2026 14:18 -
Lance Stroll shrugs off Aston Martin's slump: "I've had bad cars before"Lance Stroll insists he remains mentally unshaken by Aston Martin's disappointing 2025 season, drawing on previou...
24 Jul 2026 13:17 -
Sainz fires warning at Williams: the blunt verdict that fuels exit talkCarlos Sainz has delivered a damning assessment of Williams' 2026 season, admitting the team is further from the ...
24 Jul 2026 12:16
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
- Michael Schumacher 7
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 9
- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 637,649 comments on Mercedes
59 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Mercedes
Replies (0)
Login to reply