81 replies to this topic

[akshay380]

New Mercedes fan here! We should have a new Mercedes fan inauguration thread!

Aye aye sir. Let the show begin.

[ClubmanGT]

I was a Schumacher fan, and came to Mercedes with him, but I won't be sticking around. It's nothing against Nico or Lewis, who I hope do well, but more that Mercedes over-promised, under-delivered and are basically the new Toyota. The way they treated Michael and Nico over the last few years has been really disappointing, as has their lack of design and development acumen.

[MaxisOne]

Supporting the team first.

Schumi is a big loss but i really want to see Mercedes fix its issues and become the team that it really can be.

Welcome aboard Lewis.. Hopefully the team will finally get its act together and move up the grid.

[Wretched]

A Schumacher supporter here, first and foremost.
Now that he is leaving I'll be supporting Alonso.

[wepmob2000]

Maybe the question should be 'how many people will start supporting Mercedes now that Schumi isn't there' I can't see myself ever really supporting a large manufacturer team (Ferrari doesn't count as large), but I'll take more of an interest in Mercedes now that Lewis has gone there. I still think they're a hopeless team however, absolutely awful - unless the rumours about Newey possibly moving there are true, which I strongly doubt, he seems too intelligent for that.....

Edited by wepmob2000, 06 December 2012 - 05:31.

[exmayol]

This needs a vote.

[TheNewStig]

I've always been a fan of Tyrrell

Tyrrell-Ilmor in 2013 then.

[SenorSjon]

I had different allegiances when I was growing op

Around 1988 I (7 years old) started watching the incidental broadcast on Dutch TV (very poor at the time). I always had a thing for Ferrari, Alesi and Senna. I was against Schumacher for most of '94, but he started to grow on me. Hill and DC weren't that likeable either. I became a fan during the latter parts of '94 when he got al those hefty penalties for practically nothing (DQ Spa for example due to a spin over the curbs). I was overjoyed when he joined Ferrari. My favorite team with my favorite driver.

I never felt anything for Tyrrel/BAR/Honda/Brawn/Merc. It always felt a bit cold as a team. I only supported Schumacher in the last years, but never Mercedes.

So no, never was and will be a Merc supporter.

[tifosiMac]

I think a lot of you guys are underestimating how much money has been spent expanding the Brackley team in the past 3 years. Its a pretty damn fine facility at present and some very good engineers have been tempted there and are apparently working on next years car. Lets not forget Red Bull were once Jaguar and with a decent team assembled with a fair amount of cash, its possible to improve a team. Whether or not they will be world beaters is anybody's guess, but I do think the underhand comments about their chances are rather naive. Lewis is a rich man as its stands and something tempted him there and it wasn't the money. Lets see what they come up with before we rub our hands with smug glee.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

Isn't it obvious-- as with all fanaticism related issues -- that all those fiery Macca supporters of the past 6 years will discover Merc team is the place to be?

So, even if the numbers would go down, you sure will get a vocal bunch of people, born to be Mercedes fans.

Edit: Typo

Edited by Pothead4Philosopher, 06 December 2012 - 09:23.

[SenorSjon]

I think a lot of you guys are underestimating how much money has been spent expanding the Brackley team in the past 3 years. Its a pretty damn fine facility at present and some very good engineers have been tempted there and are apparently working on next years car. Lets not forget Red Bull were once Jaguar and with a decent team assembled with a fair amount of cash, its possible to improve a team. Whether or not they will be world beaters is anybody's guess, but I do think the underhand comments about their chances are rather naive. Lewis is a rich man as its stands and something tempted him there and it wasn't the money. Lets see what they come up with before we rub our hands with smug glee.

Red Bull has used 2 teams and a whole lot more cash to get where they are now. Without testing, I can't see Merc closing the gap with all those chefs in the kitchen.

[tifosiMac]

Isn't it obvious-- as with all fanaticism related issues -- that all those fiery Macca supporters of the past 6 years will discover Merc team is the place to be?

So, even if the numbers would go down, you'll sure will get a vocal bunch of people, born to be Mercedes fans.

I think its good that fans will follow Lewis to where ever he drives. There is no shame in supporting a driver rather than a team. If Lewis returns to McLaren, I will support him and his team. Its always been like that for me. Its much like when Ferrari's fan base went through the roof once Alonso joined, there was rants about them not being true tifosi, but who really cares? Different fans watch the sport and follow certain aspects for different reasons. There is no model to conform to.

[tifosiMac]

Red Bull has used 2 teams and a whole lot more cash to get where they are now. Without testing, I can't see Merc closing the gap with all those chefs in the kitchen.

Well its good to have opinions, but as we all know in F1, nobody remains at the top forever and many teams get a chance at the top. Who would have thought pre 2009 that we'd have Red Bull going on a dominant run? Who would have thought after the 70's that Ferrari would go 2 decades without championship success? we just don't know how it will pan out.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

I think its good that fans will follow Lewis to where ever he drives. There is no shame in supporting a driver rather than a team. If Lewis returns to McLaren, I will support him and his team. Its always been like that for me. Its much like when Ferrari's fan base went through the roof once Alonso joined, there was rants about them not being true tifosi, but who really cares? Different fans watch the sport and follow certain aspects for different reasons. There is no model to conform to.

OP asked how many fans will support Merc after MSC. My reply only reflected on that, be it with a degree of sarcasm, as I do not do the fan-thingy very well.

[maverick69]

Tyrrell-Ilmor in 2013 then.

Just like 1992 all over again!

[undersquare]

Maybe the question should be 'how many people will start supporting Mercedes now that Schumi isn't there' I can't see myself ever really supporting a large manufacturer team (Ferrari doesn't count as large), but I'll take more of an interest in Mercedes now that Lewis has gone there. I still think they're a hopeless team however, absolutely awful - unless the rumours about Newey possibly moving there are true, which I strongly doubt, he seems too intelligent for that.....

Haha that will include me! I couldn't stand Schumi. I was so disappointed that in his second, mature, stint he still couldn't drive sportingly. And I was unimpressed with the team for choosing him instead of a decent younger driver.

Anyway now Merc are at the start of a new phase, with more money, some new people, and a top driver. A lot more attention on them, and we're going to get to know them better. Let's see if they can become a team that deserves support.

[bub]

For 2013 I'll be following Merc as a Hamilton fan. Plus I like Nico. Looking forward to a fresh start.

Same here.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

I rest my case.

;-)

[undersquare]

I rest my case.

;-)

I have to point out, it seems, that pretending to be superior to fans doesn't work. It's negative, you see. Shallow. What is the motivation, after all?

[tifosiMac]

We are all fans whether some of us like to admit it or not.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

The smiley didn't give my tongue-in-cheek intent away?

Just relax buddy, it is off-season and I have to address my subjects....oh wait, that's superiority, right?

No harm meant, no offense intended, just a little fun.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

Oh,

...and yes, I am an avid aficionado of F1, big time. I do not, however, identify myself as a driver fan, that is not to say, that I do not appreciate quite a few of them. Yet that does not amount to a level that I'd call being a fan, as that simply takes away from my general enjoyment of the racing.

I could call myself a 'fan' of, say, Charlize Theron, but that would be off topic -- and slightly creepy.... ;-)

Again, we all have our 'thing' and I am quite OK with it most of the time, unless the fan issue becomes blinding to facts and such.

[TheNewStig]

I think 2 759 192 will support Mercedes as Schumacher is not there any more.1 374 265 of them is Lewis Hamilton-fans.

[tifosiMac]

As long as we don't have the thing next season where people say 'well I've supported Mercedes since 2010 and I've supported Lewis since his McLaren days bla bla bla'..... Its irrelevant to both parties as there is no shame in either.

There is nothing wrong with being a fan of a driver, team, sport, tyre manufacturer lol... Whatever floats your boat I say.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

As long as we don't have the thing next season where people say 'well I've supported Mercedes since 2010 and I've supported Lewis since his McLaren days bla bla bla'..... Its irrelevant to both parties as there is no shame in either.

There is nothing wrong with being a fan of a driver, team, sport, tyre manufacturer lol... Whatever floats your boat I say.

Cheng Shin Rubber anyone?

On a serious note of sorts. I agree that being a fan isn't a right or wrong thing in itself. Yet this BB (among many) provides ample evidence of the pitfalls of such predisposition, that gives 'a fan' a bad name. Not to label all with the same brush now, but you get the drift.

[ayali]

So no, never was and will be a Merc supporter.

Same here it's basically just Honda, maybe it just needs some more time to develop some "culture" of it's own but now there's not much of a "soul" in this team.

Red Bull has used 2 teams and a whole lot more cash to get where they are now. Without testing, I can't see Merc closing the gap with all those chefs in the kitchen.

Yep the Red Bull transformation was of a different magnitude. Also don't forget that after the Honda days the team was significantly downsized with a stricter RRA in mind, the influx of new staff is just to bring the team back to competitive proportions.

I expect many of the driver fans to follow and support Mercedes but once the results are poor again the scathing criticism similar to what happened to McLaren/Whitmarsh this year, will follow.
End of 2013 Ross Brawn will be useless and should be fired while Nico will be transformed into a backstabbing, political teammate.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

Same here it's basically just Honda, maybe it just needs some more time to develop some "culture" of it's own but now there's not much of a "soul" in this team.


Yep the Red Bull transformation was of a different magnitude. Also don't forget that after the Honda days the team was significantly downsized with a stricter RRA in mind, the influx of new staff is just to bring the team back to competitive proportions.

I expect many of the driver fans to follow and support Mercedes but once the results are poor again the scathing criticism similar to what happened to McLaren/Whitmarsh this year, will follow.
End of 2013 Ross Brawn will be useless and should be fired while Nico will be transformed into a backstabbing, political teammate.;)

Hahahaha,

I love your optimism.

[ayali]

Hahahaha,

I love your optimism.

L'histoire se répète ;)

[LiJu914]

99.98% of Schumacher fans over the age of 28 were Mansell fans in '92!
(the other 0.02% had already started supporting Prost in preparation for '93)

And Senna supporters before 92...oh wait.
Well i was, but i´ve always felt, that i belong, to a rather small species concerning that issue.

Edited by LiJu914, 06 December 2012 - 13:19.

[MP422]

I've always been a McLaren fan but will find it hard to support them when Lewis leaves, so I guess I'll be supporting the Lewis/Mercedes combo next year.

Same here.

[noikeee]

Always disliked Schumacher, always disliked Hamilton (though not as much), always disliked the previous incarnations of the Brackley team (bar the underdog story of the Brawn year), and always been ambivalent to Mercedes the brand. I don't really need to explain this much further.

Agreed on the team not having shown much of a soul so far. Rosberg doesn't help, he talks walks looks like a walking PR manual. How much of a deal was his first win... nobody cared.

[Pothead4Philosopher]

Same here.

I am not trying to be gauche here, but can (either of) you elaborate on that a little. If you are a McLaren supporter, what has Lewis' comings and goings to do with any of it?

Isn't it like if Rooney would go and play for Chelsea, you'd switch away from ManU?

Again, not to stir ruckus, just trying to understand.