Mercedes GP – Ross Brawn Receives OBE at Buckingham Palace

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is very proud to announce that Team Principal Ross Brawn received his Order of the British Empire from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Ross, accompanied by his wife Jean and his daughters Helen Young and Amy Smith, arrived at Buckingham Palace at 10.00am before entering up the Grand Staircase and being shown through the Picture Gallery and into the Green Drawing Room.

Ross then was invested with his OBE by Queen Elizabeth II before leaving through the East Gallery and into the Inner Quadrangle.

Mercedes-Powered Former Brawn GP Team Wins Laureus Award

The Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony took place today at the stunning Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. Reigning Formula One Constructors’ World Champions Brawn GP (now MERCEDES GP PETRONAS) won the Laureus Team of the Year Award, and former Brawn GP driver Jenson Button, the reigning Formula One World Champion, won in the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year category.

During the three-day period leading up to the Awards ceremony, Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers Susie Stoddart and Bruno Spengler have been taking specially invited visitors on ‘taxi rides’ around the new Abu Dhabi GP circuit in two Mercedes-Benz DTM racing cars. Their illustrious passengers included the German film star Mario Adorf and his wife, England football manager Fabio Capello, world champion surfer Robby Naish, TV presenter Sabine Christiansen and multiple tennis Grand Slam winner Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

Amongst the guests at the Laureus Awards ceremony were motorcycling legend Giacomo Agostini, Olympic and World Championship winning pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka, former Formula One world champions Emerson Fittipaldi and Mika Häkkinen, Wimbledon ace Boris Becker, former world champion boxer Henry Maske and ex-McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver David Coulthard.

Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, attended the event at the Emirates Palace this evening and collected the Team of Year Award on behalf of the former Brawn GP team.

The Laureus World Sports Awards, which have been handed out annually since 2000, rank amongst the most prestigious sporting accolades in the world. A Laureus has the cachet of a sports Oscar.

Amongst the former winners are Michael Schumacher (now driving for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS), Vodafone McLaren Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton, football colossus Franz Beckenbauer, boxing world champion Vitaly Klitschko, tennis ace Roger Federer, Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and golf pro Tiger Woods.

Mercedes GP – Michael Concludes Testing in Barcelona

Michael Schumacher was at the wheel of the MGP W01 car today to conclude this week’s four-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona and complete his own on-track preparations for the new season.

Michael spent the morning focusing on qualifying simulations and developing the set-up of the car before working on race procedures throughout the afternoon. Michael completed 123 laps with a quickest time of 1:20.745.

Today’s action brings the pre-season test programme to a conclusion after fifteen days of track action in Valencia, Jerez and Barcelona during February. With the 2010 Formula One season getting underway in less than two weeks, Michael and Nico Rosberg will next be in action on Friday 12 March for the first practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Michael Schumacher: “The four testing days here in Barcelona have helped us to make significant progress with the MGP W01 and I am feeling quite confident for the start of the season. It is always difficult to read too much into testing but knowing our programme, it is fair to say that the times did not always reflect the true picture. We have worked through many set-up and development evaluations this week and gained valuable information to study before Bahrain. We are heading the first race with a good feeling and we know that we will have our upgrades there. But most of all we know that our prospects for even the first races are looking very reasonable now.”

Ross Brawn: “Today brings our pre-season testing programme to its conclusion and overall we are very pleased with the progress made with the MGP W01 and the integration of Michael and Nico into our team. In performance terms, we are not quite where we want to be yet but then again we are not far off. In testing, it is always difficult to be precise about your position relative to the competition, and we have our complete upgrade package due for the first race in Bahrain which should bring further improvements. Michael and Nico have both looked very good during the tests and they are working well together to improve the car.”

Mercedes GP – Nico Concludes Jerez Test

Nico Rosberg was at the wheel of the MGP W01 today for the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team’s final day of testing in Jerez which brings the eight-day programme at the Spanish circuit to its conclusion.

Nico’s programme for today concentrated on chassis set-up work over longer runs alongside a tyre comparison programme. The weather stayed dry throughout enabling a very productive day for the team with Nico completing 130 laps with a quickest lap time of 1:20.061.

Nico Rosberg: “We’ve had a very positive day today and were able to complete a lot of valuable mileage which is a great way to end the tests here in Jerez. We’ve made some good progress on our set-up comparisons and learnt a lot which will be useful to prepare for the final test in Barcelona. Being able to get the laps in dry conditions has been very helpful for me to get used to the car and systems.”

Ross Brawn: “The past two weeks in Jerez have seen an intensive period of testing for the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team and it is very pleasing to have ended the test programme with two days of very valuable dry running for Nico and Michael. Although the conditions haven’t been ideal over the two tests, we have been able to make good progress on the set-up of the car and completed a number of our systems evaluations. We still have a great deal of work ahead of us in Barcelona next week but overall we’re looking in good shape for the start of the season.”

The final pre-season test will start on Thursday 25 February at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Mercedes GP – Michael Concludes Testing Action in Jerez

The final day of this week’s test in Jerez saw Michael Schumacher back at the wheel of the MGP W01.

The day started slowly with early morning rain leaving the track still very wet for the start of the session. Michael completed a few exploratory laps before returning to the garage to wait for a dry line to emerge.

Michael went back out once the track had dried sufficiently to run on slick tyres and made full use of the remaining track time to further develop the set-up of the car. Michael completed 84 laps over the course of the day setting a quickest time of 1:20.613.

The next test for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will start in Jerez on Wednesday 17 February.

Michael Schumacher: “We had a good day today to end this week’s test programme. The weather affected us a little in the early part of the day but we were able to use our time very effectively once we could run on dry tyres. We completed everything that we wanted and were able to increase our understanding of the car a step further so overall it’s been positive. It’s very tough to understand the order of the teams just yet as everyone can play so much with the fuel loads. So there is a lot of speculation going on but it’s very interesting!”

Ross Brawn: “It’s been a difficult week weather-wise for all of the teams out in Jerez however we have achieved a significant amount of mileage in both the wet and dry conditions and completed some important test items on our pre-season testing programme. This week has enabled us to increase our understanding of both the car and the tyres and our focus for the final two tests will be to continue to develop the performance of the MGP W01 and ensure the team and our drivers are fully prepared for the first race.”

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 7th February

The very best from the mouths of those in the know.

Testing in Valencia

The first pre-season test got underway…

• “With such narrow front tyres, and the shape of them as well – they’re a lot more curved – you do lose a lot of front grip. That’s what we’ve got to try and get back. That’s the biggest difference out of all the changes we’ve had this year.” Gary Paffett
• “I have a positive feeling. I’ve obviously kept a close eye on the development of the car and the results we got at the end of 2009 – so seeing this car evolve and having the input into it, I was very excited to get in the car today to see what parts we have improved.” Lewis Hamilton
• “It’s difficult to say where we are, the result was a quite good lap time, but with new rules and another team like Red Bull still to come it’s difficult to say where we are. But it was a really good start.” Kamui Kobayashi

More testing thoughts

Who was fast and who was slow…

• “There are no miracles in Formula 1: if you want to be fast you have to work hard for months and months and then you’ll meet your competitors, who have as much capacities and are as motivated as you” Stefano Domenicali
• “I think at the next test we might have more of an understanding when people are running very different fuel loads, and you can get an understanding of the difference of those loads and how much time per 10 kilos it is. Then you can work out who is quick and who isn’t.” Jenson Button
• “We all know how quickly Michael used to do it. We are all optimistic, as I am sure that he is, that there is a lot more to come. He has had one or two sessions but he hasn’t driven a Formula 1 car seriously for three years so it is pretty encouraging.” Ross Brawn on Schumacher

Potential F1 Newcomers

The grid could expand even more…

• “Stefan Grand Prix becomes the first team in F1 history who did send a 40 foot container full of equipment to the race in Bahrain without having entry for 2010 season.” Statement from Stefan GP
• “I had the chance to drive the Ferrari F1 car in Barcelona. It was great, I had fun and it was a very good test, with good lap times, but I think that it will be very difficult to see me driving in Formula 1.” Valentino Rossi… again
• “We’re going to be doing the majority of the Fridays, and being at all the grands prix, sitting in on the briefings, listening over the radio, and just making myself best prepared to hopefully become a race driver.” Paul di Resta, Force India

Nick Heidfeld Signs for Mercedes GP Petronas

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is pleased to confirm that Nick Heidfeld will join the team as Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for the 2010 Formula One season. Nick will therefore complete the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver line-up with race drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

Like Michael Schumacher before him, Nick is another former Mercedes Junior who returns to his motorsport roots. After winning the 1997 German Formula 3 Championship, as a junior driver supported by Mercedes, Nick tested a McLaren Mercedes Formula One car for the first time.

Nick was the McLaren Mercedes test driver for the 1998 and 1999 seasons, during which time he had two successful years in Formula 3000, as runner-up in 1998 and winning the Formula 3000 Championship, held alongside the Formula One races, in 1999.

Nick began his Formula One career with the Prost team in 2000 and since then has participated in 167 Grands Prix driving for Sauber (2001-2003), Jordan (2004), Williams (2005) and BMW Sauber (2006-2009). He had his best Formula One season in 2007 when he finished in fifth position in the World Championship. To date in his Formula One career, Nick has achieved 12 podium finishes.

Nick Heidfeld: “I am very pleased to be joining the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team. It’s the team which has attracted the most interest in the close season, not only because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher, but also because this season sees the return of the Silver Arrows cars as a Mercedes-Benz works team for the first time in over fifty years. Whilst I would of course have preferred a seat as an active driver, I am really proud to be part of the new Silver Arrows team. I have seen how committed everyone at the team is and I feel the same. I will be doing my very best to support Michael and Nico this year.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal: “It’s a great pleasure for us to have signed a driver of the calibre and experience of Nick Heidfeld as our Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for the 2010 season. Nick has over ten years of experience in Formula One working with established teams and he will be a great asset to MERCEDES GP PETRONAS. I am confident that his input into the development of our MGP W01 car will be invaluable. We look forward to welcoming Nick to MERCEDES GP PETRONAS and working closely with him.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “To sign Nick Heidfeld as Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team means another re-enforcement for our team. We have known each other for many years and Nick was supported by our junior drivers programme from 1997. During his 10 years in Formula One, circumstances often made it difficult for him to achieve his breakthrough. However Nick is extremely capable, he will be an asset to our team and he will show this.”

First Look at MGP W01 in Valencia

The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 2010 car, the MGP W01, made its debut in Valencia this morning with Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg unveiling the teams challenger for the new season.

On the first day of Formula One winter testing, the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS garage doors opened at 08:50am for the new car to make its entrance in front of the assembled photographers and camera crews.

Michael, Nico and Team Principal Ross Brawn posed for photos with the new Silver Arrow in its silver and green livery before the car went back into the garage to prepare for the start of the test session at 10:00am.

Nico will be the first of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers to try out the new car with Michael taking over later today.

Check back on the website later for the first reports from Valencia.

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 31st January

The very best from the mouths of those in the know.

New Drivers in F1

Race and test seats see some new names…

• “Three years ago when I returned from Europe I couldn’t imagine getting this opportunity again. I know how difficult it is to get into F1. Thank God the results and many other things came together. There are five new teams in F1 with more seats available.” Jose Maria Lopez
• “If you are trying to win a championship, to not allow your principal drivers the Friday session is not something we would contemplate. But it’s something that some other teams are looking at and it’s a great opportunity for Paul.” Martin Whitmarsh on Paul di Resta
• “This opportunity gives me even more positive energy to improve as a driver and achieve my future targets as my ultimate goal will be to become Formula 1 world champion one day.” Valtteri Bottas

Thoughts on Schumacher

Michael and more share some musings…

• “I’m hot. It’s just taking far too long to get going and we can’t wait for next week. I have no issues with the neck. I’ve done the GP2 test and lots of preparation in the winter, lots of check to make sure all is good.” Michael Schumacher
• “think there’s lots of analysis that show the peak of your physical condition is in your 30s. It depends on the sport and Michael is achieving the parameters he was achieving when he was younger, in terms of his training, endurance, stamina and strength. He’s already reaching the parameters he was achieving many years ago.” Ross Brawn
• “We can’t forget we wanted him to be Felipe Massa’s replacement last season. He will be one of our rivals, just like Mercedes, and Rosberg, McLaren, with two great drivers, and Red Bull. The title will be fought between ourselves and another three teams.” Stefano Domenicali

Testing Begins Soon

The teams start to ready their new cars…

• “Nico will start with the car. What we want to try and do is give both drivers a drive on the first day. The first day is about checking the car and inspecting all the pieces – and there will be several strip downs of critical parts.” Ross Brawn
• “Bahrain is a test, it’s not a first race for us. The cars are very advanced, we have a driver under contract and our intention is to be in Bahrain for the first race.” Daniel Eisen, Campos Meta
• “It is a very tight programme for everybody with the new car. We’ve only got four tests and we need to make the maximum amount of time prior to the first test. The performance of the car is the most important thing for all of us.” Ross Brawn

25-Jan-10: Mercedes GP Launch New Livery in Stuttgart

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 25th January 2010.

Mercedes Grand Prix became the first team to launch for the 2010 season, however it was really just a livery launch, as the car won’t be appearing until the 1st February at the test. Nevertheless, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and Ross Brawn all turned up in Stuttgart today to unveil the colours of the new car – it’s sort of like the old Brawn car, only a bit more silver than white, and a  bit more turquoise than luminous yellow. Ross Brawn was keen to insist there would be no favouritism in the team, and no number one driver, and Nico Rosberg also said he is sure there will be equality throughout. They’re starting as they mean to go on, as the pair will both be driving on the first day of testing.

Elsewhere, the Bahrain International Circuit have revealed some changes to the layout, with a new extra loop of track increasing the length by almost an entire kilometre. They believe it will house the expanded grid better and of course offer better overtaking.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

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