Was Schumacher racing for McLaren in 95-97? Did Petronas sponsor McLaren then too?
Oh, I see the usual protagonists have reverted to type.
If I read this right, you think that by 2014 Merc will have passed Macca up as one of the big three?JohnsonsEvilTwin wrote:In isolation probably.
But when viewed with perspective, Mercedes hand was forced by McLaren. So Mercedes had options available.
Quit: Not when Stuttgart has the appetite it does for F1, nor in this era where teams could in future end up making money instead of spending it just by participation. Nor with an engine freeze till 2014 and a competitive engine that requires minimal development costs.
Continue the McLaren arrangement: Not when they are propping up an on road rivals coffers to the tune of 80 million a season plus engines. This would not wash with anyone, least of all Stuttgart.
Go it alone: A championship winning team with full factory facilities made available at £100 million(a snip considering the cost of starting from scratch).
When you consider that Mercedes stake in McLaren translated into 200 million, they could afford to leave and take the risk making money in the process.
The McLaren arrangement will mean they retain high visibility and an affiliation with the team in exchange for free engines until 2015(or thereabouts).
So Mercedes have in effect not changed anything with McLaren other than they arent pumping 80 million a year into it. Until 2014 at least.
And by that time my money is on Mercedes having gone full circle into a competitive team, earning all the praise and prize money(or criticisms as they are recieving here)rather than having McLaren take the headlines.
Of course they could end up failing and selling out, but not until we can see what the Benz V6 turbo can do and wether Zetsches protege(a staunch supporter of Mercedes F1 involvement).
Excuse the lengthy post but it is relevant when comparing Mercedes to McLaren of 1995-7, as they were in a similar position with Sauber jumping to the big time boys McLaren.
It's not lopsided at all because you only need to look at those who have already discovered it made no financial sense.JohnsonsEvilTwin wrote:Its a bit of a lopsided argument you are making. First of Mercedes didnt recieve a single penny from McLaren on top of the 80 million they gave them every year. Not from sponsors or prize money.
They got an already winning Formula 1 team that promoted them very well and where they took on none of the liabilities and associated costs of running their own team. That was cheap. They're going to have to spend well over double that amount to get to where they absolutely need to be and it will cost them a hell of a lot more then McLaren ever did.Thats around 85 million before Mercedes even needs to start thinking of burning the 80 million it gave McLaren every year.
Overall reliability is MUCH better than in 1995-1997, so a podium is much harder to get. You had much more different teams getting a podium than in recent two years.xpensive wrote:I fail to follow your reasoning JET, at this very stage of the McLaren-Marcedes partnership they had scored eight podiums?
I still don't get this reasoning, if podiums were easier in the nineties, it must have been so for everyone, no?timbo wrote:Overall reliability is MUCH better than in 1995-1997, so a podium is much harder to get. You had much more different teams getting a podium than in recent two years.xpensive wrote:I fail to follow your reasoning JET, at this very stage of the McLaren-Marcedes partnership they had scored eight podiums?
Precisely my point Timbo.timbo wrote:Overall reliability is MUCH better than in 1995-1997, so a podium is much harder to get. You had much more different teams getting a podium than in recent two years.xpensive wrote:I fail to follow your reasoning JET, at this very stage of the McLaren-Marcedes partnership they had scored eight podiums?
And it is 1995 -- 8 teams got podium finishes, 2010 -- 5 teams got podium finishes.xpensive wrote:I still don't get this reasoning, if podiums were easier in the nineties, it must have been so for everyone, no?
And if podiums are more difficult today, it should by the same logic be equally harder for every team involved?