Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 2014

[Cold Fussion]

So this makes it very clear then. The Mercedes drivers act like a robotic relay ....

I don't read it like that. To me it says the drive needs to check its OK to switch modes, that is not the same as the driver being instructed. We heard it in the last race when Hamilton was telling his engineer that he wanted to turn down the engine - that's the driver taking the initiative and checking with the team.

He didn't ask them to turn the engine down, he asked / begged them not to turn it up.

Please watch this video with on-board race highlights from 22:15 minutes. https://fiftybuckss.wordpress.com/2014/ ... rand-prix/

This is the exact conversation as it was played on tv:

Engineer: "Lewis you're doing a great job, you've got the pace to win this one. Nico can't be down in eight position with that problem"
LH: "Please don't turn up my car. I'm comfortable. I've got the pace if I need to. Don't turn on the car please".

So he explicitly asks his engineer twice not to turn up/on his car. Which seems strange, because if changing engine modes means that he gets a request over the radio, he could just ignore it right?

Obviously he is to do what the team tell him to do in regards to the car.

[prince]

FIA confirmed Lewis' number as 44, for next season.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-c ... on-in-2015

[De Jokke]

That's a shame as he can/must run it any time he doesn't win the wdc. So now he has a chance to run the "1" and he doesn't. Too bad but it's his choice. Atleast I hope he put's a 1 inside the 44.

+ Let's hope he reverts back to his yellow helmet!

[therealjustin]

A bit strange that he fought all year to be number one and now he doesn't want it I get it though and the WDC should have a choice.

[Manoah2u]

hope he reverts back to his yellow helmet!

don't bet on it.

The fact he goes for #44 instead of his deserved right to badge #1, tells you he's supersticious on hoping to get his 2nd WDC with Merc and his own 3rd title by maintaining the number that granted him his WDC. Having his helmet white-yellow this year, it wouldn't come as a surprise if he'd opt for another same white-yellow year.

[Cold Fussion]

44 Is Hamilton's branding.

[Moose]

A bit strange that he fought all year to be number one and now he doesn't want it I get it though and the WDC should have a choice.

It's not that he doesn't want it - he has it. He doesn't need to plaster it everywhere to know that he has it, or for everyone on the grid to know that he has it.

The fact he goes for #44 instead of his deserved right to badge #1, tells you he's supersticious on hoping to get his 2nd WDC with Merc and his own 3rd title by maintaining the number that granted him his WDC. Having his helmet white-yellow this year, it wouldn't come as a surprise if he'd opt for another same white-yellow year.

What makes you think that? Why on earth does keeping 44 imply superstition? Instead, it could simply be that 44 is the number he's always raced under, and he wants to be identified by that. It means roughly the same as him racing in a yellow helmet, or McLaren racing in orange. They're all just something that's done because... because.

[Richard]

it could simply be that 44 is the number he's always raced under.

Correction - 44 is the number he wants to always use in future. He used that number in karting but never before in F1. His F1 numbers are:

2007 - 2
2008 - 22
2009 - 1
2010 - 2
2011 - 3
2012 - 4
2013 - 10
2014 - 44

[Moose]

it could simply be that 44 is the number he's always raced under.

Correction - 44 is the number he wants to always use in future. He used that number in karting but never before in F1. His F1 numbers are:

2007 - 2
2008 - 22
2009 - 1
2010 - 2
2011 - 3
2012 - 4
2013 - 10
2014 - 44

Sorry, to correct myself - 44 is the number he's always raced under (when he's had the choice).

[matt_b]

No. 44 is simply his favorite number its as simple as that. Everyone knows hes the current world champion, he doesn't need No.1 to remind people.

[ringo]

He has slid down the order for 1 to 4 from 2009. interesting. lol

[lkocev]

I'm inclined to believe the decision to use 44 was more marketing driven than anything else.

[ergenomic]

44 is actually the sum of the numbers from 2007-2013. The total of all the numbers is 44.

[SectorOne]

Illuminati

[Shrieker]

F1 Steering Wheels - Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg - Analysis