The following is an opinion piece based on my observations of noises in Mercedes garage ... feel free to add to topic as you please
http://www.autosport...t.php/id/112048
While on the surface the comment in the above article does look harmless, but i have suspected now for some time (for more than 18 months) that things at Mercedes aren't that peachy. Since they've become a full blown manufacturer, they've seen some success, but i was not alone who suspected that the board is contemplating cutting back their investments... which may boil down to two options: a) wind up race operations and continue as an engine supplier like before, or, b) Mercedes withdraw altogether from F1 (very unlikely but stranger things have happened). Whether Mercedes will continue and how is more likely dependent on level of success they achieve. 2013 was a very good campaign, and i wonder if Wolff didn't get his rear end served to him in a platter, as it seemed that Mercedes stopped the development at the wrong point in the season. While Wolff has made noises to the contrary, it seemed plain to me that RBR enjoyed advantages of developing their car, while their opponents sat on their hands. Now, this may come to bite them on their rear end this year, but all indications are, it will not be because of aero (powerplants and recovery systems is what it boils down to this year), as aero evolves and some elements will be drawn into the 2014 car (which should be revealed soon i guess... January, yay!). Mercedes board would certainly have not been amused, as even though they may have budgets, but who suffers fools and for how long? They let go one of their long term employee who did a lot for Mercedes in motorsports, for Wolff. So while 2013 on the whole was positive and should have been better in general, team Mercedes still has to deliver on the track. If not championships (i stress the plural bit here...), i wodner how long before Mercedes board will get disinterested in funding the entire operation. Who thought Honda would leave after almost a decade like they did? Who thought BMW would leave? Who thought Toyota would leave? Hard questions and in business sometimes there are tough choices that are made. Will there be a tough one made at Mercedes? What do you fellow fans think?
cheers!
Edited by garagetinkerer, 09 January 2014 - 09:10.