Hamilton confirmed at Mercedes for 2013

[Paul]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102895

Perez to take his seat at McLaren

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102891

[DTNS]

I'm happy for Perez going to McLaren. 



I bet Luca Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali are both doing a facepalm after hearing McLaren's announcement.  :iamwithstupid:

[Paul]

I'm happy for Perez going to McLaren. 



I bet Luca Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali are both doing a facepalm after hearing McLaren's announcement.  :iamwithstupid:

could be that or it could be because they're signing up webber or vettel next year. both drivers contracts are up for next year... maybe that's why luca said perez is "not yet ready"... or it could also been luca trying to get telmex to give more money.

[niky]

Vettel to Ferrari 2014 is pretty sure at this point. The problem with signing up a driver for just 2013 is that if the driver is good and knows he's good, then he will not likely want to get a one-year seat only to have to go team shopping at the end of next season.

Rumors are Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg are in line for Massa's seat.

I hate to say it, but the move is good for Lewis, and good for McLaren. He's not happy at McLaren. And having a pouty, dis-spirited driver show up on the podium every other race is not good for the team's image or the team's morale.

Now all that's left is whether or not McLaren will let Lewis take the driver's trophy with him...

[Paul]

that's why it's getting more likely that massa is gonna get keep his seat, and that's also why negotiations with hulkenberg and di resta have stalled.

but having vettel and alonso on the same would also result to two pouty faces if they don't get their way. would the team (for the first time) enforce an equal status between teammates?

[DTNS]

the way I see it, lewis has a career path similar to jacques villeneuve.


incidentally, Mercedes GP was Brawn, Honda, and BAR.  :read2:

[niky]

Mercedes GP already pirated half the engineering talent at McLaren at the start of the season... then pirated half the engineers in the upper half of the field midseason.

They're pirating Lewis.

Now they have Lewis, someone who should have been triple world Champion, at this point, if McLaren hadn't messed up all those seasons, Ross Brawn, who was instrumental in Schumacher's record-setting championship run... and the most engineering talent money can buy in F1.

If they don't win or at least come second or third next year, it will be embarrassing.

[Paul]

ok here's the engineering might of mercedes gp so far...

1. ross brawn - formerly of ferrari. engineered all of m.schu's championship including the ones at benetton
2. bob bell - former technical director at renault during alonso's championship winning years
3. geoff willis - formerly from red bull and williams' heyday with adrian newey
4. aldo costa - formerly of ferrari. designed the 2007-2011 cars

and thus far... only one win to show for and with cars that seem to munch rear tires like cookie monster is to cookies. so i'm not really sure what to make of lewis' move to merc.

[niky]

They've recently pirated more hands still from McLaren, midseason.

Yes... I am skeptical... but willing to wait and see. The Mercedes has been brilliant in parts, woeful in others. The Double-DRS was a ground-breaking idea, but a poor gamble, considering it would only ever be helpful in qualifying, and not in the race.