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Toto Wolff new Mercedes motorsport chef


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#101 BoschKurve

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Posted 22 January 2013 - 20:52

Lauda.... he is destructive. He now has a say.


"Destructive? What? He got me $20 million, he can't be all that bad." -Eddie Irvine

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#102 Velocifer

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Posted 22 January 2013 - 23:59

I'm surprised how amicable williams'/frank's statement was. Talking about this being a great opportunity for Toto in the same way as when a midfield driver joins a top team. I though esp. after last years good performances Williams would seriously start to aspire being a championship contender again. Why put yourself down compared to Merc? Maybe it's just because of Toto's ownership but it's still a bit odd.

Indeed, a bit sad, but Frank has always been a realist I guess.

#103 Kingshark

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 00:23

Toto Wolff: “I haven’t been in Brackley yet I have had conversations with Ross. I admire what Ross has done but I need to understand the structure and what Ross has done.”

Wolff: No Merc changes for now (Sky)

Edited by Kingshark, 23 January 2013 - 00:24.


#104 Dmitriy_Guller

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 00:37

I hope Frank has an iron-clad contract with Susie Wolff. I don't think the team can survive the one-two punch of both Wolffs leaving.

#105 packapoo

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 04:05

You seem to think she actually does something there?
What exactly? Doubt if her job description gets filled.

#106 Bloggsworth

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 08:32

Brawn's death warrant signed:

“Ross is there and Ross is part of the leading team and I hope Ross is going to stay,” Wolff said. “This is the current situation. If you look at Ross’s track record, it’s fantastic.”

Edited by Bloggsworth, 23 January 2013 - 08:33.


#107 string158

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 10:06

Brawn's death warrant signed:

“Ross is there and Ross is part of the leading team and I hope Ross is going to stay,” Wolff said. “This is the current situation. If you look at Ross’s track record, it’s fantastic.”


Maybe Brawn will move to Williams and restore them to their former glory!
Bottas Williams Brawn world champions 2013.... :drunk:

#108 Rinehart

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 10:16

Maybe Brawn will move to Williams and restore them to their former glory!
Bottas Williams Brawn world champions 2013.... :drunk:


Brawn to McLaren more likely I'd have thought.

#109 F1ultimate

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 10:27

Brawn to McLaren more likely I'd have thought.


Brawn would unlikely leave unless Whitmarsh get sacked. I cannot imagine Brawn agreeing to be puppet mastered by both MW and RD. He's too experienced for that.

#110 Francesc

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 10:30

Brawn would fit more into Williams. But I think he will retire when he leaves Mercedes.

#111 SunnyENTP

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 10:47

Brawn to McLaren more likely I'd have thought.



And play second fiddle to Whitmarsh? Come on guys a little perspective here!

#112 Rinehart

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 14:32

And play second fiddle to Whitmarsh? Come on guys a little perspective here!


I wasn't suggesting that. But I think they could co-exist at McLaren if it was planned well. Come on guys, a little creative thinking here!

#113 BoschKurve

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Posted 23 January 2013 - 15:35

Brawn can join Michael on the shores of Lake Geneva and go fly fishing together.

"Michael, we sure had a lot of success these past few years. A shame it had to end."

"You know it's 2013 and not 2007 right?"

#114 shonguiz

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 06:13

30% of Aabar ? Didn't mercedes buy that stake not long ago ?

#115 peroa

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 07:00

They bought it last year and sold it again.
Gotta keep people motivated and what could be better than letting them own a part of the company they work for.
If they don't do the job well, they'll own 40% of "nothing".

Edited by peroa, 24 January 2013 - 07:00.


#116 aray

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 07:10

I wasn't suggesting that. But I think they could co-exist at McLaren if it was planned well. Come on guys, a little creative thinking here!

can't think anything creative with that scenario...all i see is all-around destruction..... :well:

#117 Timstr11

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 09:25

They bought it last year and sold it again.
Gotta keep people motivated and what could be better than letting them own a part of the company they work for.
If they don't do the job well, they'll own 40% of "nothing".

Ownership will certainly help to keep Wollf motivated, but the stake he and Lauda have in the team will not buy them leadership skills, ability to maintain or put together a motivated team. We don't know how he will get along with the likes of Costa, Bell, Willis. Will he gain their trust? Will he be liked by the workforce?
Wolff has A LOT to prove as a leader, which is something money can't buy.

#118 PayasYouRace

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 09:54

Four days and the thread title hasn't been corrected. Maybe he is actually going over to Merc to prepare their food?

Actually I am a bit concerned that he's retaining part ownership in Williams. That seems like a too much of a conflict of interest for me.

#119 peroa

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 09:58

The thread title is in correct german and was written like that intentionally.
Mods can change it to Rennleiter, though...

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#120 peroa

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 10:01

Ownership will certainly help to keep Wollf motivated, but the stake he and Lauda have in the team will not buy them leadership skills, ability to maintain or put together a motivated team. We don't know how he will get along with the likes of Costa, Bell, Willis. Will he gain their trust? Will he be liked by the workforce?
Wolff has A LOT to prove as a leader, which is something money can't buy.

Certainly true, so far we can only sit back and wait.

#121 PayasYouRace

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 10:09

The thread title is in correct german and was written like that intentionally.
Mods can change it to Rennleiter, though...


This isn't a German forum.

#122 zdzisio

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 10:23

This isn't a German forum.


Mercedes is German and Toto is Austrian. The pun seemed quite obvious to me.

#123 PayasYouRace

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 11:04

Well I do enjoy the joke. I'll leave it up to the mods to decide.

#124 TheUltimateWorrier

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 11:21

Well I do enjoy the joke. I'll leave it up to the mods to decide.

Puns seem to be a hot potato on this forum, like in the create a livery thread. Nevertheless, Toto Wolff has cooked us up a hot potato and he's thrown it your way. Catch.

#125 encircled

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 18:59

Speaking of puns...

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is “hungrier” than any team he’s seen

“I’ve been around and there is a great atmosphere here, great spirit just as I had at my previous team,” said Hamilton. “The guys seem hungrier than any group of people I’ve seen before. They seem seriously hungry to win and excited that they have another shot at it this year."



#126 andrewf1

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:09

Speaking of puns...

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is “hungrier” than any team he’s seen


lol, quite a nice one. bring on the new austrian chef then!

#127 Szoelloe

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 19:24

Speaking of puns...

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is “hungrier” than any team he’s seen


It is his first real statement as a Merc driver, and he seems to make the right noises.

#128 peroa

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 11:01

Toto will have his office in Brackley, not in Stuttgart like Haug.
http://www.bild.de/s...08948.bild.html

Edited by peroa, 25 January 2013 - 11:01.


#129 PayasYouRace

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 11:08

That means he'll be better able to cater to the team's needs.

Edited by PayasYouRace, 25 January 2013 - 11:08.


#130 F1ultimate

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Posted 25 January 2013 - 11:26

That means he'll be better able to cater to the team's needs.


Good for him. He doesn't want to spend most of is days sitting in a room with directors who enjoy smelling each other's farts, but actually play a role in supporting the F1 team. His commercial skills are hopefully top notch so that Merc don't have to call the services of Danny Bahar.

#131 Timstr11

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Posted 27 January 2013 - 21:46

Wolff's got a lot to learn first:

“I can’t really tell [what I am going to do at Mercedes]. I think I have probably the same knowledge that you do from watching them and seeing what has happened. What you can see is you have a leader there who has won multiple titles with Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn and it needs to be properly analysed.

“I haven’t even been a full day in Brackley,” he admitted. “I have to look at it, watch it and then hopefully understand the stuff. Then I can make up my mind but I am not yet there. In the mean time I am involved a lot with the other motorsport activities of Mercedes-Benz. We were in Valencia today and we have tested Robert Kubica in one of our cars so there is a lot to do apart from Formula One.”

Source: pitpass.com (27-Jan-'13)

#132 SRK

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Posted 27 January 2013 - 22:00

Lol, Merecedes is losing it... Or has things OUT OF CONTROL!!

So, lets see a list (not entirely sure if correct) they recruited:-
-Scumi (not a good decision considering the outcome, good for his fans though)
-Rosberg (got matched throughout by a 41-43 year old driver)
-Brawn (same, should have really been held accountable & fired after this year)
-mind-bogling Senior Tech recruits in 2010-11, which led to Mclaren & Newey to smirk in 2011 & say they might as well go home lol, while another said too many chefs spoils the broth at a FIA PC (same)
-DDRS (same. really, all that minds came up with one innovation, which directly regressed the cars updates Duh)
-Niki Lauda (recent)
-Hamilton (recent)
-Lotus aero chief (recent)
-Toto Wollf (recent)

People Mercedes chose to let go:-
-Jenson Button- their current World Champion
-Norbert Haug- the face of Mercedes in every sense.

Good Job so far I guess.

Lotus aero chief works happy in Lotus. Elliott was only mid-level aerodynamicist in Enstone aero department if you think about him.

Edited by SRK, 27 January 2013 - 23:02.


#133 Risil

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Posted 27 January 2013 - 23:11

so that Merc don't have to call the services of Danny Bahar.


Only a matter of time, surely.

#134 Sakae

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 05:53

Speaking of puns...

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is “hungrier” than any team he’s seen

Well, hungrier than McLaren then, because I am not sure he would know much about any other F1 team.

#135 JRizzle86

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 08:56

Lotus aero chief works happy in Lotus. Elliott was only mid-level aerodynamicist in Enstone aero department if you think about him.


"Mike Elliott, the former chief aerodynamicist at Lotus"

#136 Szoelloe

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 09:17

"Mike Elliott, the former chief aerodynamicist at Lotus"



I think he was not. De Beer was/is, AFAIK?

#137 GodHimself

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 09:58

“(...) What you can see is you have a leader there who has won multiple titles with Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn and it needs to be properly analysed.

“I haven’t even been a full day in Brackley,” he admitted. “I have to look at it, watch it and then hopefully understand the stuff. Then I can make up my mind but I am not yet there. (...)


Looking at these comments, I'm positive Brawn is going to retire voluntarily soon. ;)

Edited by GodHimself, 28 January 2013 - 09:59.


#138 DutchCruijff

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:04

Looking at these comments, I'm positive Brawn is going to retire voluntarily soon.;)

Orrrrrrrr maybe it's just a case of there being someone with super and proven credentials yet the team is failing so he must be surrounded by 'tards.

#139 aditya-now

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:09

Orrrrrrrr maybe it's just a case of there being someone with super and proven credentials yet the team is failing so he must be surrounded by 'tards.


How can someone with the record of multiple championships go on being surrounded with 'tards for three years?


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#140 Szoelloe

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:10

Looking at these comments, I'm positive Brawn is going to retire voluntarily soon.;)


Nothing will happen in 2013. Not during the season, unless they mess up like last year. That is possible, but highly unlikely. If this structure they have now works, it is Brawn who keeps it together. If Brawn goes, Costa, Bell, are sure to leave, I am not sure about Willis, but he is ambitious too, IMHO. Some of those are capable in a TP role, especially Bob Bell. And yet, Lauda is pushing for Paddy Lowe, making a mess of it as he usually does, before pre season. So no, I think Wolff should be the person who backs up Brawn, against Lauda. Assuming that is, that Wolff is not Lauda's strawman. Wolff is the one who has invested in the team, why should he piss in his own soup bowl? That said I am afraid. It seems anything can happen at this team.

#141 GodHimself

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:12

Orrrrrrrr maybe it's just a case of there being someone with super and proven credentials yet the team is failing so he must be surrounded by 'tards.


In which case it's still his fault since he as the guy in charge, is responsible for bringing the right people to the team and using they skills in a right way. He failed to do so an am sure will need to answer some serious questions. If I was Toto Wolff I would simply fire him, because on every possible level, this team under the reign of Brawn is a failure. Even in the race strategy department.

@aditya-now

Exactly.

Edited by GodHimself, 28 January 2013 - 10:23.


#142 Szoelloe

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:13

In which case it's still his fault since he as the guy in charge, is responsible for bringing the right people to the team and using they skills in a right way. He failed to do so an am sure will need to answer some serious questions.



When did he do that exactly?

#143 GodHimself

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:22

When did he do that exactly?

Do what?

The correct question to ask is: What did he NOT do and why.

#144 aditya-now

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:29

Do what?

The correct question to ask is: What did he NOT do and why.


Exactly. It is not so much what Brawn did than what he not did. That is what is responsible for the performance of the team. And that is what has to be analysed, as Toto Wolff rightfully stated.


#145 Szoelloe

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:38

Do what?

The correct question to ask is: What did he NOT do and why.


He took over when Honda pulled out. They donwsized to the extent it crippled the team. Merc took over, and tried to run the team without any investment for nearly two seasons. by the time Brawn made them realize that is not going to work, two sesonns have passed, which meant the third was compromised too. All they had was bigois, who, in hindsight sucked big-time from the moment Zander left. They started investing in the team heavily in 2011-12, and the structure Brawn set up is fully functional from 2013, meaning work in 2012 on the W04, not the W03. Signing big heads takes careful consideration, and time. Everyone signed was forced on a gardening leave as is customary. So Brawn was effectively in a windmill fight for 2 seasons with an f1-dumb corporate board. What is it that some people fail to grasp in this whole story?

#146 Timstr11

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:48

Exactly. It is not so much what Brawn did than what he not did. That is what is responsible for the performance of the team. And that is what has to be analysed, as Toto Wolff rightfully stated.

And Brawn/the team have not made major changes last year?
Why don't you wait to criticize him after you have seen the performance of the W04?

And Wolff knows nothing. He's a rookie. He's got a lot to learn (as he said himself) before he can even think about schooling Brawn.
Lauda has a bad track record as an F1 team manager. He can only dream of having Brawn's track record in F1. Enough said.
I predict Lauda will bring this team down single-handedly. He will learn (again) that operating like a bull in a china shop will only bring the team further down and that taking a team to the sharp end of the grid consistently is a very difficult thing to achieve.

Some history on Lauda leading Jag:
http://www.telegraph...ars-hunger.html

Edited by Timstr11, 28 January 2013 - 11:13.


#147 dhill39

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 11:01

All this nonsense going on about getting rid of Ross,if they did and Paddy came,do you think Lewis would try to leave after only 1 year.

#148 GodHimself

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 11:20

All this nonsense going on about getting rid of Ross,if they did and Paddy came,do you think Lewis would try to leave after only 1 year.


Lewis is just a driver, irrelevant in the bigger picture. They already had two competitive drivers for the last three years and that's not where they were and are lacking.

Edited by GodHimself, 28 January 2013 - 11:25.


#149 Szoelloe

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 11:29

Lewis is just a driver, irrelevant in the bigger picture. They already had two competitive drivers for the last 3 three years and that's not where they were and are lacking.


I beg to differ. He was signed because of the bigger picture. If they would have wanted "just a driver", they would not have gone after him. Signing LH underlines their ambition. It means they think they will not "lack" where they have the past few seasons. So no, LH is definitely not the second coming, but he is extremely high-profile. It would be destructive for them not to give him competetive hardware and framework to achieve goals set. Again, what is it you fail to grasp in this?

#150 aditya-now

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Posted 28 January 2013 - 11:37

And Brawn/the team have not made major changes last year?
Why don't you wait to criticize him after you have seen the performance of the W04?

And Wolff knows nothing. He's a rookie. He's got a lot to learn (as he said himself) before he can even think about schooling Brawn.
Lauda has a bad track record as an F1 team manager. He can only dream of having Brawn's track record in F1. Enough said.
I predict Lauda will bring this team down single-handedly. He will learn (again) that operating like a bull in a china shop will only bring the team further down and that taking a team to the sharp end of the grid consistently is a very difficult thing to achieve.

Some history on Lauda leading Jag:
http://www.telegraph...ars-hunger.html


Wolff was quite capable at Williams and Lauda already scored some successes for Mercedes in negotiating that brought the team forward quite a bit. The reshuffle is in full swing, and it has to be, as the last three years proved that the Brawn concept did not work. Well, maybe it was Schumacher's fault and Rosberg is just a journeyman driver - then you could blame the record of the last three years on the drivers.

Maybe they should have kept Button/Barrichello....