DTM Hockenheim 2012: Preview

• Start of new era in the DTM – first race for DTM Mercedes AMG C‑Coupé

• The grand finale of the 2011 season – also at Hockenheim – was won by Jamie Green in the last outing for the AMG Mercedes C‑Class, the most successful car in DTM history with a total of 85 victories from 159 races

• Mercedes-Benz has won 31 out of 64 races at its home circuit of Hockenheim, including the last five races staged there, (i.e. opening and closing weekends of the season): Gary Paffett (x2), Jamie Green, Bruno Spengler and Paul di Resta

Comments on the DTM season opener at Hockenheim from:

Jamie Green (29, England, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- won the closing race of the 2011 season at Hockenheim
- his record at Hockenheim is two victories (2007 and 2011), two pole positions (2005 and 2006) and five fastest race laps (2005, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011)

“I’m really looking forward to the new DTM season. We’re in for an interesting and thrilling year with our new Mercedes AMG C-Coupé. The fans can look forward to seeing spectacular cars in action and to witnessing some close-fought encounters on the track. For myself, I’m obviously hoping that I can start the new DTM era in the same way that I finished the old one – namely with a win. The DTM field is so strong and well matched that it is vital to lay down a marker in the first race and to build on that basis by consistently finishing at or near the front.”

Ralf Schumacher (36, Germany, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- started from third on the grid in the 2011 season opener at Hockenheim
- claimed his first DTM podium in the 2011 season opener

“I have very positive memories of the season opener last year when I finished on the podium for the first time in my DTM career. It would be great if I could repeat that result this season. However, the winter testing has left us none the wiser as to the balance of power in the new DTM era – we’ll only find that out at Hockenheim. All the same, we’re coming to Hockenheim well prepared for the new season. I’m expecting an exciting race and – hopefully – a good result for myself.”

Gary Paffett (31, England, THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- has won three times at Hockenheim (2004, 2009 and 2010)
- has finished on the podium at Hockenheim on six occasions

“New cars, new drivers, new teams – it promises to be an exciting and intriguing start to the season. During the tests, I’ve thoroughly familiarised myself with our new Mercedes AMG C-Coupé and got used to the different handling of the car. It’s hard to predict the result of the first race, but I’m happy with our level of preparation and hope that we can get the season off to a solid start. Since my DTM debut in 2003, I’ve competed in a lot of races at Hockenheim. The circuit consists of three sections: the first corner is very fast and decisive for your time in the first sector; the second section mainly has long straights and demands some hard braking; the last sector is essentially made up of medium-fast and high-speed corners. To set a good lap time at Hockenheim, you need a well balanced car.”

Christian Vietoris (23, Germany, Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé):
- started from a Top 10 grid spot on his DTM debut in 2011 at Hockenheim
- is a member of the new Mercedes-Benz DTM Junior Team along with Roberto Merhi and Robert Wickens

“Here we go again – at last! I just can’t wait for the start of the season. Our preparations have been very good, and I learned a lot in my rookie season. I intend to build on this and convert the lessons from last year into respectable results. The conditions are perfect: I think I’ve slotted in well with Mercedes-Benz in the DTM and I feel at one with my Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé. I got to know the car well during testing and worked with the engineers on getting the setup right. The Hockenheim circuit is technically very demanding; it requires both good brakes and massive straight-line speed. It’s all about finding the right balance.”

David Coulthard (41, Scotland, DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé):
- is starting his third DTM season at Hockenheim
- had a Top Ten finish in the 2011 season opener at Hockenheim

“Hard to believe it, but I’m just about to start my third DTM season. As always, I’m immensely looking forward to the season opener at Hockenheim, a contributory factor being the part played by the fans in our home race. They really get behind us and generate a fantastic atmosphere in the Motodrom and in the Mercedes-Benz grandstand. The second of these two vantage points gives them an excellent view of perhaps the best place for overtaking on the circuit – before and after the hairpin. I am aiming to improve on my first two seasons in the DTM, especially in qualifying and at the start of the race. If I can do that, I should be able to post decent results this year.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “In 2012, the DTM starts a new era - indeed, its third and most important era. The fact that Audi and Mercedes-Benz stayed the course for six years, putting on fascinating races in competition with each other, created the stable platform for a fresh start with new momentum. We are now welcoming BMW as a new competitor to the DTM. Thanks to Audi, Mercedes, the ITR and its board plus the DMSB and its officials, this unique, outstanding motorsport series has been preserved. Now, the world’s three best and best-known premium car manufacturers are competing against each other in the DTM, with a new and exciting generation of vehicles. Over a quarter of a century, Mercedes-Benz has been the most successful manufacturer in the DTM. In figures, a total of 165 victories from 342 races, ten driver titles, nine manufacturer titles and 13 in the team championship, encapsulate the achievements of our teams over the past 24 years. We will all work on the new chapter of this success story with focus and the highest motivation.”

What’s new for the 2012 season

- The new DTM cars are coupés (two door) rather than the saloons (four door) used previously

- The cars are longer (5,010 mm, previously 4,872 mm), wider (1,950 mm, previously 1,850 mm) and lower (1,210 mm compared to 1,255 mm)

- The minimum weight has been set at 1,100 kilos. This is combined weight of the car, driver and onboard camera (or substitute ballast if the car has not been allocated a camera).

- As in F1, drivers now change gear using paddles located on the steering wheel

- The innovative new safety concept is based on a standard construction carbon fibre monocoque with roll cage and crash structures

- There are about 50 other standard components to include parts such as brakes, fuel tank, rear wing, gearbox, clutch and starter motor

- The new Hankook tyres are taller and wider than their predecessors. They measure 30 cm at the front (previously 26 cm) and 32 cm at the rear (previously 28 cm)

- From this season, in-race refuelling is no longer allowed. Fuel tank capacity has been increased from 70 to 120 litres. The two mandatory pit stops are to remain.

- Points are to be awarded to the first ten drivers across the line using the Formula 1 system: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1

- In addition to the driver and team championships, there will also be one for the constructors. The ‘DTM Manufacturer Champion’ is calculated on the basis of the top ten finishers in each race. However, if any manufacturer has more than six cars amongst the points, the others won’t count.

- New arrangements for free practice on Fridays and Saturdays: the two sessions will be interrupted by a ten-minute break after the first 45 minutes.

- The maximum duration of a race is to be 70 minutes.

- For the race at Spielberg, the number of laps has been increased from 38 to 42.

- Introduction of a marshalling system: Signals will be given by flags as well as by means of coloured lights on the driver’s display unit.

* Official photos and details courtesy of Mercedes-AMG GmbH *

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (VMM)

The Bahrain International Circuit is the Kingdom of Bahrain’s only racetrack. It was designed and built by Tilke GmbH in 2003 and it hosted the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix in April 2004. The race has been a regular fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since then, with the exception of 2011.

The 3.363-mile/5.412km track provides a complex technical challenge for the teams. The circuit has two clear overtaking places, into Turns One and Four, and acres of run-off. Its mix of long straights and predominantly low- and medium-speed corners force a compromise on car set-up, and this year’s race will also be the first time that Pirelli’s P Zero tyres and the DRS have been used at the venue.

Heat management is crucial, both for the cars and the drivers. Ambient temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees and the cloudless desert skies push the track temperature towards 60 degrees – the highest of the year. Such extreme conditions affect tyre wear and result in the drivers losing up to three litres of fluid during the race.

Race distance - 57 laps (191.539 miles/308.238km)
Start time - 1500 (local)/1200 GMT
Circuit length - 3.363 miles/5.412km
2010 winner - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 49 laps in 1hr 39m20.396s (186.272km/h)
2010 pole - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 1m54.101s (198.739km/h)
Lap record - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2004) 1m30.252s (216.074km/h)

McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix- Wins: -
- Poles: -
- Fastest laps: 2

Car 3: Jenson Button- Age: 32 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 211
- Wins: 13
- Poles: 7
- FLs: 7

“I won this race in 2009 and feel we have a car that’s quite well suited to the track’s characteristics. The track is a good balance of tricky, technical, low-speed corners and faster, high-speed sweeps – particularly two sections behind the pits, which are very satisfying when you get them right. Our car should go well here.

“I think the original circuit layout, which doesn’t include the extended ‘endurance’ loop that we used for a single race in 2010, is better for Formula 1 – and it’s a positive that we’re returning to that configuration this year.

“It will make the approach into Turns Five, Six and Seven – the high-speed sweepers – more challenging as you’ll be entering at much higher speeds. Hopefully, we can get another strong result to bolster our chances in the championship.”

Car 4: Lewis Hamilton- Age: 27 (January 7 1985)
- GPs: 93
- Wins: 17
- Poles: 22
- FLs: 11

“Unlike Jenson, I’ve not won in Bahrain – although I’ve had some strong drives there in the past. The circuit is a typically modern F1 track, with plenty of run-off and a good variety of corners. You can be really late on the brakes for Turns One, Four and 14, which is a particularly technical final corner.

“Still, there are definitely passing opportunities. Turn One is a classic late-braking opportunity, and it also gives you the chance to set up the other driver, by forcing him to defend up the inside and then compromising his exit speed, which gives you the opportunity to have a look inside at Turn Two, or even Turn Four at the end of the straight.

“I think we go to Bahrain with a car that’s well-balanced in every area, and I’ll be looking for another strong result.”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
“Our result in China showed that neither Jenson nor Lewis has lost any of his fighting spirit; and to get both of them on the podium – after each qualified in a less-than-representative position – was further proof that MP4-27 appears to be consistently competitive wherever we go.

“The 2012 event will mark the first time Formula 1 has raced in Sakhir using both KERS Hybrid and DRS, and I think the combination, in tandem with a well-positioned DRS deployment zone along the main straight, will lead to another exciting race.

“This weekend, we’ll be looking for more points-scoring opportunities for both drivers – we’re fully aware that this is a long championship and that it’s often just as important to score regularly, and to keep scoring, as it is to win races. It’s consistency that will define the path to both world championships, I believe.

“This race will represent the last of the four flyaways that constitute the opening phase of the 2012 world championship. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes goes into the race leading both the drivers’ and the constructors’ world championships, and we want to come away from Bahrain having consolidated our positions in both. We’re determined to mount a consistent and sustained challenge for both titles, and we’re currently in a good position to achieve that.”

How McLaren defined five days in the history of the Bahrain Grand Prix
1. April 3 2005
Kimi Raikkonen finishes third for McLaren, but it’s F1 returnee Pedro de la Rosa who attracts the most post-race plaudits. He’s drafted into the team at the 11th hour to replace the injured Juan Pablo Montoya and he drives a tenacious race to fifth, setting the fastest lap of the race.

2. March 12 2006
A mechanical problem in qualifying forces Kimi Raikkonen to start the race from last (22nd) place. Undeterred, he’s up to 13th by the end of lap one and he executes a perfect one-stop strategy to finish third. Juan Pablo Montoya ends a solid day for the team in fifth place.

3. April 8 2007
Another race, another podium for McLaren’s new superstar Lewis Hamilton. He starts and finishes the third race of his F1 career in second place, just behind pole sitter and race winner Felipe Massa. Fernando Alonso brings the team’s second MP4-22 home in fifth place.

4. April 26 2009
The MP4-24 has some early-season grip issues, but that doesn’t stop Lewis. The reigning world champion uses the team’s new KERS Hybrid system to good effect, coming home in fourth place.

5. March 14 2010
Third place behind the Ferraris is a promising start to the year for Lewis, but he might have finished even higher had he not been held up by Nico Rosberg for the first half of the race. Jenson Button, driving his first race for McLaren, comes home seventh.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (MBAMGF1)

Just one week after Nico Rosberg took the first Silver Arrow victory of the modern era in Shanghai, and his own first Formula One win, Round Four of the 2012 World Championship will be held in Bahrain on Sunday 22 April.

• The Sakhir circuit features three corners taken below 100 kph and four straights where the cars exceed 285 kph
• The pit lane is among the longest of the year, with a total of 480 m spent under speed limit control
• 70% of the lap distance is spent at full throttle, an almost identical proportion to that seen in Melbourne
•  DRS can be used for 46% of a qualifying lap in Sakhir, compared to 53% of the lap last weekend in Shanghai

Michael Schumacher
“Having experienced a race such as China gives everybody in the team a big push, and we certainly will give our optimum to repeat our performance in the next races. However, the season so far shows that you can never be sure of anything, and having had three winners in three races demonstrates how close together the teams are this year. But then again, it is good to see that we are more and more able to fight at the front, and we will certainly try to transfer our great pace from China onto Bahrain for the next race to come this weekend.”

Nico Rosberg
“I have really good memories of the Bahrain Circuit. I won the Formula 3 Macau-Bahrain Cup, GP2 Championship and finished seventh on my F1 debut with the fastest lap of the race. I like the track a lot. It’s quite low downforce with lots of big stops and some faster corners too. The track layout definitely fits our car but it’s really a big challenge for us to manage our tyre work well again and find the right set-up as the temperatures will be much higher than in China.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“After the fantastic weekend that we experienced in Shanghai, it has been nice to take a few days to reflect on the achievement of the first win for a Mercedes works car since 1955, and of course, Nico’s first win in Formula One. The team have worked very hard to overcome the tyre issues that affected us at the first two races, and it is clear that achieving the optimum performance from the Pirelli tyres is absolutely key to our performance and ability to challenge at the front of the field. The temperatures and track conditions in Bahrain will be very different to Shanghai, however we will work hard to extract the maximum performance from the F1 W03 and have another strong weekend.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“Last Sunday was a milestone for our MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team. However, things move quickly in this business and our focus is now on preparing for the fourth race of the season in Bahrain. Our newly-formed Silver Arrows team made its debut at this circuit two years - and 41 races - ago. Since then, everybody in Brackley and Brixworth has worked tirelessly to make ours a winning team, and our performance in China provided a first taste of success. But we are keeping our feet on the ground, because this year more than ever before in the history of Formula One, small details can take you from hero to zero: just three tenths of a second separated P1 to P11 in qualifying last Saturday. We have not raced on this configuration of the Bahrain circuit since 2009, because the layout used in 2010 included an additional loop of slow corners. Track and ambient temperatures are of course traditionally high, while there are seven traction events from 150 kph or lower around the lap: these factors mean that looking after the rear tyres is particularly important. We have all seen how delicate it is to keep this generation of Pirelli tyres in their optimum performance window, and this challenge is making for some thrilling racing throughout the field. This weekend will be our chance to understand more about what progress we have made with our Mercedes AMG F1 W03 on this point in hotter conditions than we experienced in China. We are taking nothing for granted, and will continue to work in a focused manner on extracting everything we can from our current technical package.”

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Chinese F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (VMM)

The scale of the Shanghai International Circuit is breathtaking. Built on marshland in 2003, the track sits on more than 40,000 stabilising concrete pillars and its infrastructure is bigger and bolder than at any other circuit on the Formula 1 calendar.

The track is a good technical challenge for the teams and drivers with some high-speed changes of direction and a 1km back straight offering a challenge to find the least compromised set-up. One of the most demanding corners on the lap is Turn One, a tightening right-hander entered at speeds in excess of 300km/h with an apex speed or 70km/h. It places the left-front tyre under prolonged stress, which has an impact on wear rates and race strategy.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has a strong record in the Chinese Grand Prix. The team has won the race three times and finished on the podium on seven further occasions.

Race distance - 56 Laps (189.568 miles/305.066km)
Start time - 15:00 (local)/07:00 (GMT)
Circuit length - 3.387 miles/5.451km
2011 winner - Lewis Hamilton (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes): 56 laps in 1hr 36m58.226s (188.758km/h)
2011 pole - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing): 1m33.706s (209.416km/h)
Lap record - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari 2004): 1m32.238s (212.749km/h)

McLaren at the Chinese Grand Prix
- Wins: 3 (2008, 2010, 2011)
 - Poles: 2 (2007, 2008)
 - Fastest laps: 3 (2005, 2008, 2010)

Car 3: Jenson Button 
- Age: 32 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 210
- Wins: 13
- Poles: 7
- FLs: 7

You called the Malaysian Grand Prix a “bad day in the office” – does that change your preparations for this weekend’s race in Shanghai?

“Not really, it makes you a little keener to get back in the cockpit as you’re always a bit more determined to be looking ahead rather than looking back. But, like I say, it doesn’t really make any difference. In fact, the three-week break has been extremely relaxing – I was able to get away, relax and keep training. It’s still the start of a very long season, so it’s good to keep fit and refreshed. I’ve usually gone well in Shanghai, it’s a circuit I really enjoy and I’m looking forward to the race weekend.”

You memorably won here in 2010 – what is it about the circuit that makes it special?

“Well, the facilities are amazing, but it’s a very good, modern circuit – the first two sectors are pretty technical, there are some interesting combinations of corners and you need a good, responsive car to go well. Then the track opens up, the straight is one of the longest in Formula 1 – it just keeps going – then you’re into the hairpin and the final turn, both of which offer good opportunities for overtaking. There’s no one particular corner that stands out, but that’s good, because it means they’ve done a good job with the whole track.

“And if it rains, then it’s going to be another extremely unpredictable race as we’re all still learning about the cars and tyres in damp conditions. Whatever happens, it should be interesting.”

What will be the key to a good race performance in 2012?

“There will be the usual set-up compromises: setting the car up to offer good downforce through some of the faster corners, but without sacrificing too much speed along the straights. We saw different teams address that balance in different ways over the first two races, so it will be interesting to see if things start to converge this weekend after a few weeks back in Europe.

“Tyre wear will also be very important – last year we saw a real disparity between the compounds - so getting the preparation right will be crucial.” 

Car 4: Lewis Hamilton
- Age: 27 (January 7 1985)
- GPs: 92
- Wins: 17
- Poles: 21
- FLs: 11

You opened your winning account in China last year, are you hoping for the same this season?

“I’m looking at the championship as a whole – although, of course, I’d love to win every race, it’s more important to be in a good points-scoring position at every race. I think the first two races have shown that, as a team, we’re definitely in positions to win.

“I think Malaysia was a good example of how to pick up points when you’re looking at the championship – and that was something I really took away as a positive from that race. But yeah, I’ll be heading to China looking to win – but it’s just as important to pick up some good points if, for whatever reason, a win isn’t on the cards.”

What do you like about the Shanghai International Circuit?

“I have some vivid memories of racing in China – some good, some not so good! I’ve won there twice – both were victories I’m really proud of: in 2008, it was a very important race, and I really needed a good result for the championship – we had a pretty much perfect weekend with pole position, fastest lap and the race win. Then in 2011, coming off the back of a difficult weekend in Malaysia, I had a great race, kept pushing every lap and managed to take the lead right at the end. It was a very important win because it showed that we could be a force in the championship that year.”

Your two third positions have consolidated your position in the championship – is that the key to a good season?

“I won’t deny that I’m disappointed to have had two pole positions and not to have been able to convert either of them into victories, but I prefer to think of it that luck just hasn’t been on my side, and that it will swing my way sooner or later.

“I also think last year taught me the value of consistency: it’s no use chasing a great result if you can't back it up with another strong finish the following week. So maybe I’m just playing myself in gently: after all, in 2007, I didn’t win a race until the sixth round, and I was in the hunt for the title all through the year. I still don’t think the pecking order has settled down yet, so it’s important to get some good results in the bag while we can. It will be very interesting to see how the order has shaken itself out over the last three weeks – it’s going to be an interesting weekend.”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“The Chinese Grand Prix is a race in which we’ve traditionally gone very well – we’ve won three of the past four races here, all of which have come through faultless performances from Jenson and Lewis – and we head to Shanghai this year keen to add to that tally.

“While there are mixed feelings to have only been able to convert two all-front-row starting positions into one race win, everybody here at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes feels extremely encouraged by our pace in the first two grands prix of the season.

“Make no mistake, however: we’re acutely aware that our rivals won’t have stood still during the past three weeks. We’ve certainly been extremely busy, too, and we don’t take anything for granted: if the overall competitive order was a little hard to read in the first two races, I have no doubt that it will start to become clearer next weekend, and I strongly believe that, once again, it will be closely fought at the front.”

How McLaren defined six days in the history of the Chinese Grand Prix

1. September 26 2004
The inaugural Chinese Grand Prix ends with the top three separated by just 1.4s. Kimi Raikkonen comes home third for McLaren, after sitting on the gearbox of Jenson Button from the second round of pitstops.

2. October 16 2005
Kimi finishes second to newly crowned world champion Fernando Alonso. He sets the fastest lap of the race, but loses a strategic advantage when the Safety Car is deployed after Juan Pablo Montoya dislodges a piece of metal grating at Turn 10.

3. October 7 2007
Lewis Hamilton does everything right early on. He leads the race from pole position, but as he pits on lap 31 he runs wide at the pitlane entry and beaches his car in the gravel. Raikkonen wins for Ferrari, ahead of Fernando in the second MP4-22.

4. October 19 2008
Lewis converts pole position into the team’s first victory in China. His fastest lap of the race emphasises his dominance and, as a result of this win, all he needs is fifth place in Interlagos to clinch the world championship.

5. April 18 2010
A classic Jenson Button victory. Light rain falls at the start of the race and Jenson stays on slicks while his rivals pit for intermediates. When the rain stops and the track dries out, Jenson moves into the lead and is never headed. Lewis finishes second to give Vodafone McLaren Mercedes a one-two finish.

6. 17 April 2011
A three-stop strategy and a fresh set of tyres at the end of the race allows Lewis to rapidly close on Sebastian Vettel, who he audaciously passes for the lead with four laps left. Jenson comes home fourth to maintain his 100 percent finishing record in China.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Chinese F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview + Feature (MBAMGF1)

Round three of the 2012 Formula One World Championship, the UBS Chinese Grand Prix, takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday 15 April. The 5.451 km Herman Tilke designed circuit made its debut on the calendar in 2004 and is shaped to represent the Chinese ‘shang’ character.

• Since 2004, the eight races have been won by seven different drivers; only Hamilton has won twice (in 2008 & 2011)
• The 1170 m back straight is among the season´s longest, with the cars at wide open throttle for 15.5 seconds
• At peak revs on that straight, the engine´s pistons will be accelerating at 81,000 m/s2 , equivalent to over 8,250 G

Michael Schumacher
“When I think about the Chinese Grand Prix, the fans are the first thing that comes to mind. For many years now, I’ve had a big and loyal fan base there, and it’s still very touching to see the lengths they go to in supporting me. A big thank you to all of them! As for the race itself, I’ve never had much luck in Shanghai, apart from my win in 2006; however that could change this year. In the first two races of 2012, we didn’t manage to maintain our qualifying pace in race conditions. We’ve been working intensively on this, so that we can offer our fans a strong performance in China.”

Nico Rosberg
“I have good memories of the Chinese Grand Prix as I was on the podium there in 2010 and led the race last year. I like the Shanghai International Circuit very much with its many unique, long corners. For me, China is really the start of the season as the first two races have not gone to plan. The track is quite different to the first two, as it demands more from the front tyres than the rears - in other words, what is termed a front-limited circuit. We know that we have a quick car, but we are looking to improve our long run pace in China next weekend and to have a better race performance.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“The Chinese Grand Prix takes place at the very impressive Shanghai International Circuit and has really established itself on the Formula One calendar in recent years. China is an important and growing market for our sport, and indeed for Mercedes-Benz, and we look forward to our annual visit next week. On track, we hope that the weekend will prove more successful than the first two races of the season where our race results did not match expectations after a positive start to both weekends. A lot of hard work and analysis has taken place back at the factory since our return, and I hope to see these efforts pay dividends next Sunday in Shanghai with a performance which reflects the capabilities of the F1 W03.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“The first two races of the 2012 Formula One season have been ones of unfulfilled promise for our team. Michael’s second row qualifying positions were less than half a second from pole in Australia and Malaysia, however at both events we did not convert our qualifying speed into a consistent race performance on Sunday when it counts. Since the last race in Malaysia, the team has conducted analysis of our tyre usage during the first two rounds, and how we can improve. The Chinese Grand Prix will provide an answer on our progress, although weather conditions and circuit characteristics will be different to either Melbourne or Malaysia. The 1170 metre back straight accounts for over 20% of the lap distance, the cars exceed 285 kph on four different occasions, and nine of the circuit’s corners are considered to be low or medium speed, with five taken at less than 100 kph. Our team has been hard at work since Malaysia, and we hope to be able to translate our learning process into consistent and competitive lap times on race day in China.”

Race Preview Feature: Cracking the Conundrum

Two races into the 2012 season, and firm conclusions are very hard to come by when assessing the true competitiveness of the teams. The results from the first two races indicate that this could be one of the most open seasons for years, with seven different teams finishing in the top ten in Melbourne - and nine in the mixed conditions of Sepang. Even in qualifying, the margins are incredibly close: the top ten qualifiers from Q2 at the first two races were separated by an average of eight-tenths of a second, compared to 1.5 seconds in the first two races of last year. In such a tightly matched field, small details make a huge difference.

For MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, the time between the races in Malaysia and China has been spent trying to unravel a conundrum: why hasn’t strong qualifying speed been translated into a similar level of competitiveness on Sundays?

“In both races, our problems have been related to getting the tyres into the correct working window,” explains Team Principal Ross Brawn. “However, at each race it was at different ends of the scale: in Melbourne, we overheated the tyres - it was under control on Friday, then we developed the set-up in a direction which did not prove helpful in the warmer conditions. In Malaysia, having done a lot of work in practice to make sure we didn’t suffer from the same problem, the cooler conditions on Sunday dropped us out of the window again.”

Temperature readings give a clearer picture of the shift: while on Friday and Saturday, track temperatures were in the mid-40s in Sepang (peaking at 45°C on Friday), they hovered around 30°C in the race. “In the dry at the end of the race, we got the car working more effectively and our pace was more respectable. But I still don’t feel we really got the tyres working well, gripping hard and operating at optimum temperature.”

The consequence of the drop in temperatures was to flip the primary challenge of the race on its head: instead of needing to protect the tyres from overheating, it was critical to generate tyre temperature in the cooler conditions. More than one team experienced a loss of relative competitiveness compared to Saturday. “The result in Malaysia was a great one for Formula One - but certainly not what would have been predicted before the start,” continues Brawn. “Like other teams at the front of the grid, we spent two days getting tyre temperatures down - and then, in the race, found that we needed to work the tyre harder. The cooler conditions reversed what was needed from the cars.”

However, circumstance alone does not explain the team’s difficulties at the opening races of the season. “We have too narrow a window in which we are operating the car - and we have to broaden that, and build more tolerance into how we are using the tyres,” explains Brawn. “When we encounter challenges like this, we look at all areas of the car and we challenge ourselves collectively to find the solutions we need. But our qualifying speed tells us that the fundamentals of performance are there: you can’t do the lap times if you don’t have enough downforce, horsepower or a good chassis.”

So far, the potential of the F1 W03 has only been glimpsed on Saturday. At both races, the best of the team’s cars has qualified less than half a second from pole position - in 2011, the closest the team got to pole was 0.525s in Turkey. The step forward in basic performance is clear to see and there is no reason to believe that it cannot be translated to race conditions.

“Our objective is to build the best car we can for the race - and our qualifying performances are a consequence of that,” continues Brawn. “Nothing has been consciously done to focus on making the car quick in qualifying, and not so good in the race, because under the current rules - with DRS and the number of pit stops - there are no real rewards for doing so. Using the tyres properly is vital for success, and it depends on a number of factors, including set-up, the downforce the car is generating and the drivers’ approach. Within the set-up variations we can choose, we have the opportunity to find the right solution. But it’s a learning process, and we missed the mark at the first two races.”

What then of prospects for Shanghai? Practice data from Sepang indicated that, in dry conditions, race performance should have been more consistent than in Melbourne. China will provide an opportunity to confirm this. “Our analysis since Malaysia has given us an even better understanding, and we have plans and actions in place to improve our tyre management,” concludes Brawn. “We clearly have a reasonably quick car - we have shown that in qualifying - and now we have to convert our speed into race performance.”

~ Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (VMM)

A regular fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since 1999, the Sepang circuit was the first of the government-funded, Hermann Tilke-designed venues that now prevail in the sport. Several high-speed changes of direction, coupled with long straights and tight hairpins, make the 5.543km track a thorough workout. Good car balance is vital and it’s no coincidence that the winner of the Malaysian Grand Prix has gone on to win the world title for the past three seasons.


The heat and humidity of the tropics add another dimension to this race. Blistering track and ambient temperatures make it hard on tyres, tough on drivers and one of the most physically difficult races for all F1 personnel.

Race distance - 56 laps (192.879 miles / 310.408kms)
Start time - 16:00 (local)/08:00 (GMT)
Circuit length - 5.543km/3.444 miles
2011 winner - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 56 laps in 1hr 37m 39.382s (190.699km/h)
2011 pole - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 1m34.870s (210.338km/h)
Lap record - Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams FW26) 1m34.223s (211.782km/h)

McLaren at the Malaysian Grand Prix
Wins: 2 (2003, 2007)
Poles: -
Fastest laps: 4 (2000, ’01, ’05, ’07)

Car 3: Jenson Button
- Age: 32 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 209
- Wins: 13
- Poles: 7
- FLs: 7

Victory in Australia was the best possible way to start the season – how do you feel going in to Malaysia?

“Calm, refreshed and feeling extremely positive. After the race, people asked me if we’d expected to demonstrate the pace that we did in Australia, and I tell them that it was unexpected. Of course, we’d done our sums after winter testing, but you can never be certain whether another team is running with high-fuel or hiding their true pace. So to come away from race one with such a positive result – Vodafone McLaren Mercedes took pole, fastest lap and the victory – is a huge relief for the organisation.

“But it’s also incredibly motivating: we know we have a great car but we’re not going to sit still with it. We have ambitious plans to develop the car and I know that everybody back at Woking is working hard to bring new components to the track, and that all our mechanics and engineers are flat-out to ensure that we maximise the package that we have this weekend. I think everybody knows that we are a relentless organisation; we can develop a car as well – if not better than – any other team. The difference this year is that we’ve started with a winning package; the challenge will be to maintain that, and I know that’s something we’re all really looking forward to doing.”

You won Malaysia in 2009, and you finished second here last year – is it a circuit you like?

“It is. It’s more of a high-speed circuit [than Melbourne], there are some fantastic sweeping corners here and, if the car’s working properly, it’s a real joy to drive. It’s one of the toughest circuits on the calendar because there’s a real range of corners, cambers, a couple of blind apexes and a little bit of gradient. If the car’s working against you, then it becomes painful, but when it’s all switched on, it’s just a great, great circuit to drive.

“I think we’ve got a car that really works well in the high-speed stuff – we saw that throughout winter testing. So I think the challenge this weekend will be to find the right balance – at this stage in the year, you’re still learning about the car and how to get the best from it. But I think the engineers understand how our car is strong – I know they’re really looking forward to extracting the maximum from it in Sepang this weekend.”

Your victory in Australia was relatively unflustered, are you expecting a stronger challenge this weekend?

“As we said repeatedly throughout last year, and we saw time and again with Sebastian [Vettel], if you can qualify strongly and get away cleanly then it’s much easier to control the field, to race cleanly and to get a representative result.

“I think the race showed that there are several top teams in Formula 1, and I think we can expect them to be fighting for victory in Malaysia. Both Red Bull drivers were very quick in the race, and I think we can expect further strong challenges from Mercedes AMG and Lotus this weekend.

“Of course, we’re not relaxing – and we go to Malaysia ready for a strong fight.”

Car 4: Lewis Hamilton
- Age: 27 (January 7 1985)
- GPs: 91
- Wins: 17
- Poles: 20
- FLs: 11

After Australia, you said you weren’t sure how you’d lost pace relative to Jenson: do you now understand that, and does that put you in a good position for Malaysia?

“Yeah, after the race in Australia, it was difficult to understand exactly what happened. I was generally happy with the car all weekend, but just lacked a bit of pace compared to Jenson in the race. Afterwards, I sat down with my engineers and we went through all the data. There was a small issue with the clutch at the start: it wasn’t my fault, but we now understand and know how to improve in the future. My race pace was pretty much identical to Jenson’s, but he was able to switch the tyres on extremely well, which explains how he was able to pull a gap so quickly at the start and also after the restart.

“It’s encouraging and reassuring to understand the reasons for our race pace in Australia, and it puts me in a really positive frame of mind for the race in Malaysia. Plus, it always helps to be back in the car only five days after the last grand prix – you move on so quickly.”

You’ve never won in Malaysia – does that make you more intent to tick it off your list?

“It’s never really something you’re particularly conscious of during the race weekend, but I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d love to win a grand prix at every circuit I race at. You’re right, I’ve not won at Sepang before, but I’ve had some good races here – and I’d like to put the record straight with a victory this weekend.

“I think we go into the weekend feeling pretty optimistic because Sepang is quite a high-speed circuit and our car has usually gone well in the high-speed stuff during winter testing. Sepang will also be a test because of the high temperatures, but we’ve traditionally been able to manage the cooling on our car quite well, so I don’t think that will be too much of a concern.

“Physically, it’s always a tough race, but we’re improving the organisation in every area, and I think we’ve taken some interesting steps this year to ensure the whole team will be better prepared for the heat and humidity.”

Will we get a clearer picture of overall pace this weekend?

“Clearly, we’re very encouraged by our pace, both in qualifying and in the race, and I’d like to think we can continue that at Malaysia this weekend. I think both Mercedes AMG and Red Bull Racing have performance up their sleeves, and they’ll both be very fast in qualifying and the race. As far as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is concerned, it’s nice to be the hunted rather than the hunter, which has been the case in the past few seasons.

“But I know how well our team can respond – the result in Australia will only double everyone’s resolve. The development race has already started and we’ll be pushing like crazy to stay at the front. I think Malaysia will add detail to the overall picture, but it’s the pace of development – between ourselves, Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus and Ferrari – that will define the course of the season.”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“Everybody within Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was tremendously buoyed by our performance in Melbourne last weekend. As we all know, a Formula 1 winter is incredibly tense as it’s almost impossible to know if the targets you’ve set internally will set the standard or leave you wanting.

“Happily, we were delighted to discover that MP4-27 has been successfully developed into a race-winning package – and that’s a source of huge pleasure, and huge relief, for the whole team.

“Of course, nobody sits still in Formula 1 and we head to Malaysia mindful that we’ll once again receive a stern challenge from our closest rivals – most notably Red Bull Racing and Mercedes AMG, both of whom will have points to prove this weekend.

“Sepang was one of the original ‘new world’ Formula 1 circuits and one that triggered the sport’s global expansion into Asia at the start of the millennium. I’m pleased that it remains a mainstay of the calendar, but also that it has developed a character and history of its own. It’s an extremely demanding circuit – on both the cars and the drivers – and a real challenge.

“We’ve enjoyed some highs and lows here, but I think we’re all looking forward to understanding how this unique season will continue to unwind this weekend.”

How McLaren defined seven days in the history of the Malaysian Grand Prix

1. October 17 1999

Mika Hakkinen finishes third in the inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix, frustrated by Ferrari’s bid to keep Eddie Irvine in the title hunt by using Michael Schumacher to control the race. Mika wraps up the title two weeks later in Suzuka.

2. October 22 2000

A brilliant race by David Coulthard sees him finish second, just 0.7s behind Michael Schumacher. Mika finishes fourth, sealing McLaren’s second place in the constructors’ championship.

3. March 23 2003

Kimi Raikkonen’s first win in Formula 1. The youngster charges from seventh on the grid to win by a mighty 39s from Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello – it is the first of the Finn’s 18 grand prix wins.

4. March 20 2005

McLaren don’t win this race, but the pace of Raikkonen’s MP4-20 is astounding. After suffering a mid-race puncture, he blasts back through the field to finish ninth, setting fastest lap.

5. April 8 2007

Fernando Alonso’s first win for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. He leads home Lewis Hamilton in a dominant one-two for the team. It’s a great race for Lewis too, who outfoxes Felipe Massa in a tense early battle and sets his first fastest lap in F1.

6. April 5 2009

Light rain starts to fall on lap 22 and the subsequent deluge results in the race being stopped on lap 31. It isn’t re-started due to failing light, so half-points are awarded. Lewis is the first Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver home in seventh place.

7. April 10 2011

Jenson Button starts fourth and, exhibiting the maturity and long-sightedness that is to define his season, looks after his tyres to take a tenacious runner-up position – his first podium of the year.

* Official photo and details courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: Mercedes-Benz shows us a glimpse of the G-Class 2012 at new GLK launch

In the official photo set of the new GLK-Class 2012 (X 204), Mercedes-Benz have inserted an image that contains not only the compact SUV, but also the vehicle which can be considered its grandparent: the G-Class 2012 generation. This is not the first occasion when the German carmaker intentionately "leaks" a photo of a forthcoming car using the launch moment of another model from the lineup: in 2008, a few days ahead the official reveal, they previewed the A-Class Coupe facelift in a picture emphasizing the Active Parking Assist of the new B-Class facelift that had just been released by mid-March that year (see the respective photo HERE). Sticking to the Gelandewagen, the photographed example is a G 350 BLUETEC, equipped with a 3.0-litre diesel V6 unit rated at 211 hp. The visual tweaks are minor, but enhance the historical refinement of the G-Class - new alloy wheels, new exterior mirrors and a strip LED daytime running lamps under each of the traditional circular headlights. The interior, the safety and assistance technologies, the telematics as well as the powertrain are the key parts that underwent major upgrades to ensure the 30-year old 4x4 stay fully up-to-date. With the unveiling of the new G-Class 2012 set for Beijing Motor Show in April, there's not much time left till we get the first official details - it's a matter of weeks.


Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: New details on the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2012

After 30 years of service, the mighty G-Class will be refreshed once more in order to keep pace with technological developments in the segment. The 2012 model, which is bound to last on the market till the end of 2015, comes packed with a completely revised interior, an impressive safety package, brand new assistance and communication devices and new engines. The entire updated range will celebrate the world premiere at Beijing Auto Show next month.


The new G 500 receives the new twin-turbo V8 powerplant with 435 hp; the 211 hp G 350 BlueTEC is here to stay, whereas a possible G 350 CDI version developing 265 hp might also be in cards.

The most eagerly awaited models are the AMG variants. The G 63 AMG replaces the outgoing G 55 AMG and is powered by the 5.5-litre 544 hp V8 engine. The new addition to the range, the G 65 AMG, uses an optimized V12 powerplant producing a total of 612 hp. Both AMG SUVs feature firm's 7-speed sports gearbox to transfer the huge amount of power to all four wheels. Market launch is scheduled for June 2012; sources indicate a purchase price for the G 63 AMG of around 115,000 euros, while for the high-end G 65 AMG one could spend 220,000 euros.

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (MBAMGF1)

Round two of the 2012 Formula One World Championship takes the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team to Malaysia, home of the team’s title partner PETRONAS. The PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday 25 March at the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit, just outside of Kuala Lumpur.


• The run from pole to the apex of turn one is 660 metres long - the second longest of the season after Barcelona.
• Half of the last ten races in Malaysia have been won from pole; the highest winning grid position was P7, in 2003.
• The last ten Malaysian Grands Prix have featured no official Safety Car deployments (the 2009 race is not considered as it officially ran to only 31 laps).

Michael Schumacher
“After the disappointment of how the first race in Melbourne turned out, I am flying to Malaysia with a big sense of anticipation, because we saw in Australia that our car is capable of putting us in the mix. Of course, we haven’t forgotten that the circuit in Melbourne is not really representative of the true competitive picture, but nevertheless the car gives me a good feeling for the season ahead. Sepang will be interesting for everybody because it will be the first clue to the real relative strengths of all the cars. The range of slow and fast corners give a good indication of where you are, which always makes the race in Malaysia fun for the drivers and engineers, and overall a big challenge for both man and machine. I’m looking forward to it.”

Nico Rosberg
“I always look forward to coming to Malaysia for the Grand Prix. Sepang is one of my absolute favourite tracks on the calendar and it is the home race of our friends from PETRONAS. The circuit has two long straights which should suit us this year, and the conditions will be very demanding as always due to the high heat and humidity. I’m confident that we can improve our performance here, and we will have a successful weekend in front of all our Malaysian supporters.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“The Malaysian Grand Prix is always a special race for the team as the home race of our title partner PETRONAS. As always, the support that PETRONAS provides to Formula One, both to our team and to the promotion of the sport and the Grand Prix in Malaysia, has been fantastic, and we are all looking forward to a busy and successful week. Despite a positive start, our first race weekend of the season in Australia did not turn out as we would have wished, and there has been, and will continue to be, a lot of hard work done before we take to the track again in Malaysia. We have a fundamentally good car, now it is up to us to optimise its performance and achieve its potential on track.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“Last weekend in Melbourne, we began the race well, with our cars running third and fourth, and ended it badly, with Michael retiring from P3, while Nico suffered a puncture on the last lap after contact with another car while fighting for sixth place. Before this, Nico´s lap times were affected by higher levels of tyre degradation than ourselves and Pirelli had expected from testing and the practice sessions in Melbourne. Our team will be working hard to understand and, where possible, correct this before the next race in Malaysia. Our title partner PETRONAS is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and they are strong supporters of Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities in Formula One, DTM and our Formula 3 junior programme. However PETRONAS is much more than a title partner and element of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team name. Thanks to their hard work, the continuous development of fuels and oils has also brought valuable tenths of a second in lap time improvements. Moreover, Mercedes-Benz and PETRONAS are close business partners in many countries around the world, with notable success. Together, we are working to achieve similar successes in Formula One and, with the potential our car has shown in pre-season testing and in qualifying and the opening stages of the race in Melbourne, we are now working in a focused manner to convert this into strong race results.”

Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: Mercedes-Benz to introduce a CLC-Class concept at NYIAS 2012

Mercedes-Benz will soon add a new model in its already expanding compact segment portfolio. Based on the new A-Class and B-Class, the CLC-Class is a chic alternative for the bigger CLS and will be marketed as a niche variant. The C 117 (internal designation) is a crucial player, because it will be the first exponent of the new generation of compact Mercedes-Benz cars to be sold in the United States, before the other two siblings. With no contenders on the market whatsoever, the first 4-door compact coupe in the world is programmed for reveal while we approach the end of 2012. To help us imagine how the real car could look like, the Stuttgart-based constructor will be flashing the stage of next month's New York Motor Show with a preview concept car. The recipe is the same as in the case of the A-Class, so we shouldn't worry about anything. Just by looking at the successful story of the CLS-Class, excitement is really building up for the new CLC. No doubt this attractive automobile will be a hit, just like its "older" brother.

Illustration Credits: Schulte-Design


Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Australian F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (VMM)

Between 1985 and ’95, the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide became the venue for F1’s seasonal finale. However, since moving to Melbourne in 1996, Australia has become F1’s usual curtain-raiser, and its laidback and welcoming vibe make it the perfect location once again to kick off the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.


Situated in the seaside suburb of St Kilda, Albert Park is a temporary street track that invariably produces unpredictable and exciting racing. The reasons for this are manifold: the grand prix circus arrives after a winter of hibernation with form still uneven and difficult to read; factor in the dusty and constantly evolving track surface, the proximity of the barriers, a series of challenging high-speed corners and the constant threat of autumnal rainshowers and you have all the ingredients for a classic!

Race distance - 58 laps (307.574km/191.110 miles)
Start time - 17:00 (local)/06:00 (GMT)
Circuit length - 5.303km/3.295 miles
2011 winner - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 58 laps in 1hr 29m 30.259s (206.184km/h)
2011 pole - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 1m 23.529s (228.552km/h)
Lap record - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2004) 1m24.125s (226.933km/h)

McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix
Wins - 10 (1986,’88, ’91, ’92, ’93 – Adelaide; ’97, ’98, 2003, ’08, ’10 – Melbourne)
Poles - 9 (1988, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’93 – Adelaide; ’98, ’99, 2000, ’08 – Melbourne)
Fastest laps - 7 (1988, ’91 – Adelaide; ’98, 2002, ’03, ’06, ’08 – Melbourne)

Car 3: Jenson Button
- Age: 32 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 208
- Wins: 12
- Poles: 7
- FLs: 6

Melbourne has been a great track for you – what are the highlights?

“There are lots. My first grand prix was here way back in 2000 – it was just a buzz to be in Formula 1: it was pretty intense, the whole weekend just flew past pretty quickly. I had pole here in 2006 – another good memory. But I think the two most significant memories for me were, in 2009, winning from pole for Brawn GP. It was a momentous race for the entire team and it felt so sweet to give them such a reward.

“And winning here in 2010… just an incredible day. Going early for the dry tyre, then almost losing the car at Turn Three, putting the others off following my example, and then finding a rhythm and having a fantastic car underneath me. That was my first win for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – it was completely unexpected, but a really significant result for me personally.”

What is it about Melbourne that makes it so special?

“It’s hard to put your finger on it. It is a special race – you step off the plane after a long, cold European winter and it’s usually very sunny and the people are incredibly welcoming. I think the circuit is a nice challenge too – it’s not a particularly technical track, but the surface is always rubbering in across the whole race weekend, and it’s a place that encourages nip-and-tuck racing. For a street track, it’s got a really good flow, you can really find a good rhythm – and it’s got some fast corners too, which is unusual for a road course.

“I think the new rules have definitely made it a more competitive place – it’s easier to pass here now than it ever was. And I think the potential of a second DRS zone will be a real benefit – last year, along the startline wasn’t quite enough for overtaking – I think we’ll get more benefit from a second zone. Finally, the walls around here are close enough to keep your mind focused. I can’t remember a race here that wasn’t eventful or surprising in some way – so it’s the perfect place to kick off the season.”

How confident do you feel after the winter that you’re set for a strong start to your campaign?

“I’m happy with our preparations. You always want more laps and more time in the car, but, unlike last year, we’ve had a very solid start to our pre-season. It’s been very difficult to read pace over the winter because a lot of teams have been playing their cards close to their chests: I think it’s going to be extremely close, and I can’t wait to find out where we sit in the pecking order.”

Car 4: Lewis Hamilton
- Age: 27 (January 7 1985)
- GPs: 90
- Wins: 17
- Poles: 19
- FLs: 11

What does Melbourne mean to you?

“Melbourne is a city that has sport running through its veins – and the crowd lives and breathes it. It’s a great place to start the season. For me, Melbourne means sunshine, smiling faces, a great paddock – a bit compact but very friendly, a great city with a really positive vibe – and a racetrack that’s really made for racing. A place where you can really get the back-end of the car moving around quite nicely yet still feel like you’re fully in control of the car. The track has got a nice flow to it – I love the fast sweepers behind the pits, it’s awesome when you get them right – and it’s a place where, the more you can attack, the faster you go. My kind of place!”

After just three tests – six days each in the car – do you feel prepared?

“I actually feel more relaxed and ready for the new season than I think I’ve ever done. Everything has gone smoothly with the car – which is more than we can say for last year! – and it just seems to be a responsive and reliable package. My final day in the car – with the aero package we plan to run next weekend – also felt good: the car was a useful step forward.

“Of course, we haven’t tested it in competition yet, but there’s plenty to feel optimistic about. It’s a bit weird to have driven the car for a whole month and still not done a really fast lap – I guess we’ll really find the limit next Saturday. Obviously, this is always the time of year when you’re feeling positive, but we’ve got plenty to look forward to. I’m going to get off the plane in Australia with a big smile on my face.”

What are your hopes and aims for the Australian Grand Prix?

“It’s a realistic aim: to score some useful points and use the race to kickstart our challenge for the world championship. That might sound like we’re aiming low – we’re not – but, at this time of year, it’s good to remember that it’s going to be a very long season. There’s no point putting all your eggs in one basket – I’d love to win in Melbourne, sure, but there are 19 races afterwards, so it’ll be important to get some points on the board. As long as I can leave Australia feeling confident that we have a car that’s able to fight for the title, then I’ll feel happy. It’s as simple as that.”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“I’ve never lost my enthusiasm, optimism or motivation for the start of each new Formula 1 season – and this year is no exception. As is often the case, you can complete thousands of kilometres of testing, analyse hundreds of thousands of lines of performance data and read pages of web and magazine editorial and still not have a clear idea of overall form going into the first race.

“I think that’s an intrinsic and fascinating aspect of Formula 1: the resetting of the bar at the end of each season and the relentless, and often invisible, quest to emerge on top at the start of a new year. I think Australia will be fascinating: the winter’s testing has been so finely balanced that it’s particularly difficult accurately to judge who’ll be the quickest. And that’s fantastic for Formula 1 fans across the globe.

“At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, we’ve had an extremely productive winter – I’ve never seen Jenson and Lewis looking so healthy, committed and prepared for a new season. There’s a real hunger within the whole organisation – I’ve witnessed it in conversation with our heads of department, our engineers and our mechanics: we want to win more than ever and we’ve left no stone unturned in our quest for performance.

“Make no mistake, this will be a long, arduous and difficult campaign, and I’m naturally reluctant to stick my neck out and make any predictions, but my greatest hope is that we go to Australia and put on a world-beating show to demonstrate to the world that Formula 1 is back, and back with a bang!”

How McLaren defined 10 days in the history of the Australian GP

1. October 26 1986

Alain Prost takes the first of McLaren’s 10 Australian GP wins – it’s a tense and dramatic day, with the Frenchman edging out Nigel Mansell (explosive tyre blow-out) and Nelson Piquet (precautionary pitstop) in the dying laps to clinch his second drivers’ title.

2. November 5 1989

The first of two infamous Adelaide deluges left Alain Prost in no mood to contest the race – he withdrew on the parade lap. The torrential conditions also caused mayhem: Ayrton Senna crashed blindly into Martin Brundle’s Brabham after just 13 laps.

3. November 3 1991

Ayrton Senna wins the shortest race in grand prix history. A mighty rainstorm turned the track into a skating rink and conditions were deemed too dangerous to continue. Ayrton’s winning time was a scant 24m 34.899s, an average speed of 129.169km/h.

4. November 6 1993

Despite fears from the team that he would run out of fuel on his final, flying lap, Ayrton Senna kept it nailed to secure pole position – his 46th for McLaren. The following day, he drove the active-ride MP4-8 to his 41st and last-ever F1 win.

5. November 11 1995

Tyre failure sent Mika Hakkinen into a tyre-wall with huge force, leaving the Finn unconscious and requiring an emergency trackside tracheotomy. Fully recovered, Mika later cited the accident as a defining point on his road to becoming champion.

6. March 9 1997

David Coulthard ends McLaren’s 50-race winless drought with the first victory for engine partner Mercedes-Benz. It’s a symbolic victory, kickstarting the revival of the famous Mercedes Silver Arrows.

7. March 8 1998

A pre-race gentlemen’s agreement sees David Coulthard hand the lead to team-mate Mika Hakkinen. It’s both noble and controversial, but allows the team to score a dominant one-two and cement its path towards double-championship glory.

8. March 9 2003

Few would have considered David Coulthard a contender in the ‘year-old’ MP4-17D chassis, particularly starting down in 11th. But the canny Scot kept his head, weathered the storm and kept it clean to score a memorable final grand prix victory.

9. March 18 2007

The day Lewis Hamilton ‘arrived’ in F1. Starting fourth, the rookie audaciously swept into third at the first corner and ran as high as second with all the assurance of a veteran. In his first grand prix, he finished on the podium – and a new hero was born.

10. March 27 2010

A strategic call for dry tyres on a still-damp track was the decisive move for Jenson Button, who moved from last to first in just 20 laps. The win emphatically underlined his world champion’s credentials and set him up as one of F1’s all-time regenmeisters.

* Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes *

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

Australian F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (MBAMGF1)

The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship gets underway in Melbourne next week with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Hosted at the beautiful Albert Park for the 17th consecutive year, the 5.303 km street circuit is located south of Melbourne city centre, and uses public roads surrounding the man-made Albert Park lake.


• From 2002 - 2011, the winner of the Australian Grand Prix has gone on to become World Champion seven times
• DRS can be used over 56% of the lap distance in qualifying, a total of 2970 metres
• The Safety Car has been deployed in six of the last ten Australian Grands Prix on a total of 15 occasions
• Mercedes-Benz power has won three of the last four Australian Grands Prix (2008, 2009, 2010)

Michael Schumacher
“Finally, we can stop trying to read the tea-leaves from testing and actually go racing. Melbourne is a perfect location, and the ideal place to start the season. The city loves Formula One, the fans create a great atmosphere and obviously, as drivers, we feel that too. And because we’ve already got a buzz about what’s to come, it just makes you want to get out there and start driving. During winter testing, we completed lots of miles and built up a really complete set of data, which should put us in a good position for the first race and to develop the car even further in the right direction. We’re ready for the 2012 season to begin…”

Nico Rosberg
“I’m really looking forward to the start of the new season in Australia next weekend. I had a perfect winter break with plenty of rest, a good training camp and a successful pre-season test programme where we were able to put a lot of mileage on our F1 W03 car. So we are really ready for the first race. I always love the atmosphere in Melbourne; it’s a great city and the fans are fantastic. After all of the hard work, and all of the speculation, it will be really interesting to see where we are on Saturday afternoon after qualifying. Before heading to Australia, I will be in New Zealand for a bike training camp to help me adjust to the time difference and the climate ‘Down Under’.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal
“The build-up to the start of a new season is always an exciting time, no matter how many times you have experienced it, and everyone at the team is looking forward to the action getting underway in Melbourne next week. We are well prepared, both at the factory and on track, as a result of our structured development and testing plan, and I am confident that we are in a good position. How this translates to our performance relative to the competition is, of course, the key question and it will be interesting to see how it all shapes out next weekend. My thanks to all of the team at Brackley and Brixworth for their hard work and dedication over the winter months and I hope we will be able to reward them with a strong season. Melbourne has always been one of the atmospheric races on the calendar, and certainly one of my favourite cities to visit, so I look forward to a good week ahead.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
“It´s only a little over 100 days since Formula One was in Brazil for the final race of the 2011 season, but now we are ready for the 2012 season to begin and to get back to what we love best: going motor racing. Starting the third season with our Silver Arrows works team, we think we are better prepared than the two years before, which indicates that our learning process is heading in the right direction. The Mercedes F1 W03 has run reliably since its first run on 16 February, completed 4,450 km during pre-season testing, and achieved an average daily testing mileage of 472 km: this equates to an average of more than one and a half Grand Prix distances during each of the nine test days. Nico and Michael are both excited about the new season and highly motivated, while our team members back at base in Brackley and Brixworth and on track are working extremely hard to deliver both performance and reliability at the opening race. The whole team has done a good job in both areas this winter. After testing, we know we have a solid basis to work from and a good platform for development. Understandably, there is much speculation about the pecking order of the new season, and finally we will get a first answer on Saturday afternoon during qualifying in Melbourne, when everybody has to put their cards on the table. Before the first race of this long season, I would like to thank all our team members who have worked so hard and with dedication during the past months, with our clear target which is making the next step in improving our performance compared to our competitors. We aim to show that we have taken this step forward as the first part of a continuous process of improvement.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS *
Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: The big secrets behind the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Facelift revealed

The facelift of the current generation E-Class, planned for launch at Detroit Motor Show next year, will be anything but unnoticeable. We are talking about a substantial and extensive revamp of Mercedes-Benz' business class lineup, given the importance of this segment in the sustained growth of the company. The E-Class for 2013 will not only be more visually attractive, but it will also be fully technologically updated.


The W 212 series of the E-Class is a successful model for Mercedes-Benz, but sometimes a radical change is needed to light things up. Often criticized for having a too conservative look lacking passion and dynamism, the E-Class will undergo a restyling procedure which targets to deliver more attractive aesthetics for the executive limousine. The new design exercise will showcase fewer complicated lines, a clean, elegant and straight profile with no Ponton creases, single-unit headlights instead of the current quad configuration and upgraded tail lamps.

The E-Class Facelift comes soon after the unveiling of the new S-Class (W 222), so it will borrow the latest developments in safety assistance, ride control and telematics. First of all, engineers will introduce the third generation of the DISTRONIC PLUS which was enhanced to detect cross-traffic and act accordingly. Furthermore, the new E-Class will boast several other clever technologies, such as an improved night vision system, which is able to detect animals, an intelligent lighting device with moving LED pixels, a road congestion assistant, a more precise lane keeping system, anticipated damper-adjusting MAGIC RIDE CONTROL and the first-ever Head-Up Display system. The E-Class will also feature Car-to-X communication, an ingenious, integrated traffic management solution that enables autonomous driving and recognizes different road situations.

Major changes are set to encounter in the engine department as well, as the E 350 BlueEFFICIENCY will gain more power thanks to the 333 hp 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Moreover, there's word Mercedes-Benz plans to discontinue the E 500 version in Europe (something smells rotten in this rumor) beginning with 2013 and offer it solely for Stateside clients. This manouevre could prove rather faulty, we say, because the peak output is to rise from the current 408 hp up to 435 hp courtesy of the BlueDIRECT twin-turbocharged V8 with a maximum displacement of 4.7 litres. The E 63 AMG is expected to showcase the same powerplant, only that the output will grow by 12 hp up to 537 hp. While the BlueTEC and BlueTEC HYBRID variants remain unchaged, the E 300 CDI version will bite the dust. Mercedes-Benz is said to have already started the development of a high-end diesel engine, which arrives on the future E-Class (W 213) in 2015. Till then, a plug-in hybrid E-Class could launch in 2014. It will follow the footsteps of the VISION S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID concept car, so this means a V6 unit with over 300 hp and an electric motor with up to 109 hp, which leads to a total output in excess of 400 hp.

Credits: CAR Magazine

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class shows us its dynamic booty

Prior to the Geneva Motor Show starting next week on the 6th March, an unknown dealer from Hungary (this information is yet to be confirmed) thought it would be a great idea to leak an image from an internal brochure of the new A-Class onto the web, which happens to be celebrating the world premiere in just a few days at the European automotive salon.


While tracing the culprit and punishing him from breaking the normal press embargo could both be easy and tricky at the same time for Mercedes-Benz, for us, the fans, this is a good moment to know what to expect from the new premium compact model, even though the magic of the official unveiling may have been a bit dented already. After meeting the front fascia of the A-Class during a photo shootout in the Canary Islands, it's now time to face the rear end, which seems to bare some reminiscence from the concept car, but altogether it looks to have been rather tamed down. Given the exterior appointments, the photographed vehicle was probably wearing the popular AMG Sports Package, which successfully manages to give the little Merc a dynamic and powerful presence throughout the muscular protection bumper, the lateral air inlets and the black diffuser which incorporates the double exhaust pipes.

Image Credits: WorldCarFans

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

PREVIEW: Another look at the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W 176)

Today, Mercedes-Benz revealed parts of the new A-Class' dashboard along with showcasing the latest smartphone-dedicated COMAND infotainment system. Despite following the same style as the B-Class, the compact hatchback features distinctive details, such as a slightly revised center console and a sportier instrument cluster. Later on, Autobild magazine released a picture of what seems to be a pre-production A-Class. The model looks real and in line with what we've seen so far (HERE). However, compared to Concept A-Class, the final street car has been toned down quite seriously, but at least some of the dynamic design has been preserved for the good. The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class will be live on the stage of the Geneva Motor Show starting the 6th March, so in less than two weeks we shall see better images and learn more official details.

Follow after the jump and check out the newest spy shots of the A-Class!











Image Credits: GermanCarForum

Copyright © 2012, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.