Rosberg 'optimistic' after 'decent' start

Nico Rosberg demonstrated that Mercedes GP's Chinese pace was not a one-off as he fought for the P1 slot in Friday's Turkish practice

Having qualified fourth last time out in China, Rosberg even led the grand prix for several laps before a fuel consumption issue dropped him down to fifth place.

And although Mercedes GP were encouraged by their pace in Shanghai, there were still a few questions about whether it was genuine.

The team insisted it was and Rosberg proved just that on Friday in Turkey when he finished with the second fastest time of the day, just 0.065s behind McLaren's Jenson Button.

"We have made a decent start to the weekend and I am optimistic for tomorrow. We had a productive afternoon and tried a lot of things with the car," said Rosberg.

"I didn't have too many problems with the tyres on the long run and I was quite surprised by the grip levels, which were higher than I expected. The wet tyres had a lot of grip this morning too.

"I'm happy with what we learned and expecting a very interesting time tomorrow and on Sunday."

Meanwhile, Schumacher finished the day in fourth place, 0.607s off the pace after putting in no fewer than three spins at Turn 11.

"We had quite a positive Friday, and it was especially good that we were able to test both wet and dry tyres. I hadn't really driven the wets so I'm pleased that I finally had some opportunity to use them.

"Also, my sessions were quite eventful with three spins in Turn 11.

"All in all, our car confirmed the performance improvement from China, so we can look forward to the rest of the weekend. We still have some questions relating to the set-up but I am confident we will sort them out tomorrow."

Team boss Ross Brawn has happy with the day's proceedings, saying: "We had a reasonably good day and it was nice to get a lot of work done.

"We had a good opportunity this morning to see what the car was like in the wet conditions. It was also the first time that Michael had really driven the car in the wet, so that's useful as the conditions this weekend could still be mixed.

"Then we had a nice dry session this afternoon and completed a lot of work on low and high fuel. The balance of the car isn't there yet and there is a lot of work ahead, but the team and drivers have worked very well today."

Source: Planet-F1

Schumi: We're right behind Red Bull

Michael Schumacher believes a podium finish is possible in Australia this weekend as Mercedes GP are "just behind" Red Bull in the pecking order

Although many have said that lap times set during pre-season testing are not a true indication of form, Mercedes GP put in a very strong showing in the final outing at Barcelona.

Schumacher set the fastest time seen at the Spanish circuit in the dry, prompting some speculation that the team has made a massive step forward.

And the seven-time World Champion believes that step may have put them right behind Red Bull Racing.

"I am looking forward to it (the Australian GP) after winter testing," the German told Autosport.

"Mercedes has done a huge step forward with this year's car, it is a very performance-orientated car and it has paid out

"This weekend it is up to us to prove it, and we have a good opportunity to prove good things.

"Nevertheless we should not overestimate things, and see the truth - and that is that Red Bull Racing is most likely the team to be beaten.

"I think we are going to play an important role just behind that.

"And whoever is behind that group, I see Ferrari, Renault look good, Williams look good, McLaren is not to be forgotten because I expect them to be stronger than they were in testing, and us - this is the pack that I see a good opportunity that we might be able to fight for that position to be the second fastest."

Asked whether a podium finish would be possible, he said: "That is the nature of being behind Red Bull that you might be jumping on the podium."

Source: Planet-F1

Photos: Mercedes GP W02 launch 2011

Mercedes GP W02 launch today!

...

New silver arrow debuted at Valencia

The debut of the MGP W02, the new Silver Arrow for the 2011 Formula One World Championship, took place this morning at the Valencia Circuit in Spain with the new challenger unveiled in front of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team garage by Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.

The result of twelve months intense design and development work, the MGP W02 is the second Silver Arrows car to be launched by MERCEDES GP PETRONAS since the team became the first Mercedes-Benz works outfit since 1955.

The car’s livery is an evolution from its predecessor with a striking high-gloss airbrush effect highlighting the shape of the car. The interaction between the Silver Arrows heritage and the green shading representing the team’s title partner PETRONAS evokes memories of the first Silver Arrow car of 1934 with a modern touch added by 3D partner logos.

The technical specification of the MGP W02 includes the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery) system which returns to the sport after a one-year absence. The Mercedes KERS system was the first to win a Grand Prix during the 2009 season when KERS made its debut in Formula One. Also new on the car for this season is the adjustable rear wing, operated by the driver to aid overtaking, and Pirelli tyres as the Italian manufacturer becomes the sport’s official tyre supplier.

The team’s driver line-up remains unchanged with seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, who achieved the team’s three podiums in 2010, forming one of the most exciting and talented pairings on the grid.

Michael Schumacher: “Finally the waiting is over and things get started. For us drivers, the break every year is hard to take because the gap between the last race and the first time out on track seems to be never-ending. Even if I have been involved and updated all winter on the developments, and even if I know the improvements are significant, it is still different to see the new car literally for the first time in front of you. You automatically build up this nice pre-start tension. I very much look forward to the new season. We have said it several times already but again, we are really to building up something big together. I am very confident that this season we will be standing on the podium much more regularly; ideally in the middle!”

Nico Rosberg: “It is always a very exciting time of year to drive the new car for the first time and feel how it performs out on track. This year we have the added challenge of not having an immediate reference due to the change in tyre manufacturer to the new Pirelli tyres, which felt good during our first try-out at the Abu Dhabi test last year. I am very much looking forward to having a much stronger season than last year and as always, our targets are aggressive. We want to be competing at the front and challenging for race wins. Everyone at our factories in Brackley and Brixworth has worked extremely hard on the new Silver Arrow and we are all looking forward to seeing how it performs.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal: “It is always a thrill to see a new car ready to take the track for the first time and this year is no exception. After our first year as the Mercedes-Benz works team, we are now seeing the benefits of our chassis group and our engine group working well together. With a good technical structure and a strengthened race engineering organisation, both at the factory and the race track, I am confident that we have done and will continue to do a better job this year in all key areas.

“The concept development for the MGP W02 started early and we have set challenging targets for the design, combined with a robust plan to ensure that the pace of development can continue throughout the long 2011 season. We have two excellent drivers in Michael and Nico, both of whom capable of winning races in a good car, and we look forward to seeing them push each other and the development of the new Silver Arrow during the season. We want to be setting the standard right from the start but if we are not, we will respond very strongly to get ourselves into the game. Everyone is excitedly waiting to see what the new season will reveal.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President - Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “The new Silver Arrow for the 2011 season has little in common with its immediate predecessor. Our chassis engineers have taken a fairly ruthless approach and were determined to shave off every superfluous gram and millimetre. What emerged from this process is a compact and exquisitely shaped vehicle that introduces a host of sophisticated solutions and truly reflects the enormous dedication of its constructors. We have given it a brand new coat of paint, and we aim to see a smile on the faces of our hard-working drivers and team members that is as bright as our new silver livery.

“Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher are top drivers who can win races for us, provided we build them the right car. At the same time, our team, like all the other teams, has to deal with complex new tasks. The new generation of tyres from Pirelli, and the extent to which the cars and drivers adapt to them, will play a vital role in deciding wins and defeats.

“The rear wing flap, which can be adjusted under specified conditions, will boost top speed and facilitate overtaking which should open up a new and interesting chapter for Formula One. And there is the return of KERS following a one-year absence at the end of the 2009 season when our Mercedes system recorded a historic first race win. This will play a massive role amongst all of the performance-related components, both for the additional power and for the strategic options it makes available. As in 2009, it is our ambition that Mercedes-Benz builds and runs the best hybrid system and that all three teams which use it benefit significantly from this.

“After I have spoken at length here on the many new issues, our target can be described in one short sentence: The new Silver Arrow should not only look first class, but should also be developed to be at the top step-by-step.”

Source: Nextgen

Schumacher hints at car discrepancy

Michael Schumacher has hinted that his car has not always been on the same performance level as team-mate Nico Rosberg's Mercedes this season.

The seven-time world champion has endured a torrid season on his return to Formula One racing and has been consistently out-qualified and out-raced by the younger Rosberg.

And although Schumacher managed one of his better outings of the season with a sixth place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix, he indicated that there have been more problems with his car than with Rosberg's.

"The car worked great this time," Schumacher told German television channel RTL. "Unfortunately, I cannot say it has been that way at all the races.

"There have often been problems, especially on my car, in terms of the consistency, that were not always noticed from the outside. You only saw that I was slower. Both cars have not always been the same."

Mercedes' Norbert Haug did not disagree with Schumacher's claims.

"I cannot disagree with Michael. As far as the car is concerned, he is right," Haug told Bild newspaper.

Source: ESPNF1

Schumacher not about to abandon comeback - spokeswoman

Michael Schumacher's spokeswoman has played down rumours the seven time world champion is reconsidering his decision to return to formula one.

The rumours were triggered at Monza by the German's former team boss Eddie Jordan, who now stalks the paddock as a pundit for British television BBC.

Jordan said on Saturday that he thinks Schumacher, 41, is in danger of vacating the Mercedes seat after spotting multiple team bosses, drivers and managers entering and exiting the German team's motor home at Monza.

"I've a hunch something fundamental has changed. I believe he is disillusioned and thinking of quitting," said the Irishman.

But Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm hit back: "Michael has no plans to quit at the end of the year.

"When he entered into the whole comeback scenario, he was fully informed about the situation with the car. That's why he chose it to be a three year contract -- you cannot expect to come back and win straight away in that situation.

"Obviously he would have wished that the developments to the car improved its performance more than they did," admitted Kehm.

"But it is a three year project to build a winning team and he is in the middle of the process."

Jordan also said he has "hear rumours" that Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn might not be staying.

But Mercedes-Benz's motor sport director Norbert Haug denied he is at loggerheads with Brawn.

"We are absolutely together working on next year's car," he said.

Source: F1 Complete

Vettel: Still 'something special' about Schumacher

Red Bull Racing star Sebastian Vettel has added his voice to those defending the performance of record-breaking grand prix legend Michael Schumacher in F1 2010 - arguing that there's still 'something special' about the 41-year-old...

Sebastian Vettel has advised against writing off Michael Schumacher in the F1 2010 World Championship, opining that his feted countryman can still 'play a very big role' in the destiny of the laurels this year, that 'Mercedes will come back' and that contrary to what his detractors would have you believe, 'Schumi' is in actual fact 'doing a very good job'.

There has been much criticism this season of the eagerly-hyped yet markèdly underwhelming comeback of the most successful driver the sport has ever known, with the Michael Schumacher of 2010 seemingly a very different creature to the driver who claimed no fewer than seven world championship crowns, 91 grand prix victories, 154 podium finishes and 1,369 points and practically obliterated each and every one of his team-mates in the top flight during his 'first career' at the highest level between 1991 and 2006.

The model that has returned three years on from 'retirement', it is argued, is by stark comparison listless and an easy touch in battle, no longer as quick as he once was and indeed fast becoming a laughing stock, having tallied just 36 points from the opening ten races of the campaign to Mercedes Grand Prix team-mate Nico Rosberg's 90, and not a single rostrum finish to three for his younger compatriot.

There are even whispers – stringently denied by the 41-year-old – that he may choose to save himself any further embarrassment and damage to his illustrious reputation by hanging up his helmet again come season's end, but Vettel suggests to dismiss him that easily would be a grave mistake.

“Obviously he has been criticised a lot lately in Germany, England, everywhere I think,” mused the driver once nicknamed 'Baby Schumi' in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel, when asked if he deems his elder compatriot's return to the grand prix grid to have been a failure. “I think he is doing a very good job – it is far from easy to return after a three-year break, even though he was never entirely away from F1 – but if anybody can manage it, he can.

“The cars have changed, the tyres as well – many things are not the way that he had become accustomed to – [but] when I look at his face and read his body language, I do not see any confusion or panic. Obviously the car he's in at the moment is probably not the most competitive one, and it's always hard from the outside to make a fair judgement about what is going on, if the car is to his liking or not – but I still think he can play a very big role in this year's championship. I think Mercedes will come back, they will have strong races this year and I think they can be able to win races.”

Having already gone wheel-to-wheel with Schumacher in the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai back in April, Vettel is well-placed to comment upon the Kerpen native's racecraft and appetite for the fight – and the Red Bull Racing star is insistent that in every possible way, he remains one of F1's biggest draws.

“You can feel that it's not just anybody racing you,” the 23-year-old reasoned. “I remember the race in China; there was a lot of passing and so on, but you realise he knows how to defend well and he knows how to kill your run, let's say, and to defend his position better than most. In some other actions you see, like in free practice, it shows you there's something special going on.

“Obviously the results are not the best, but I think that will change. If someone wins seven titles, you'd think he had to be something special. I don't think you can take his place – he is still the best-known racing driver in Germany and due to him, F1 is a very big sport in Germany. I don't think people will forget that quickly; surely with good results, drivers like Nico, myself and others can get better-known, but Michael is still a long way ahead in those terms.”

Source: Crash

Haug's visit to see Raikkonen fires F1 rumours

As previously reported last week... the rumours continue. Where there's smoke there's fire! (We hope!) =)

Mercedes competition director Norbert Haug recently travelled to Kimi Raikkonen's home in Switzerland.

The visit triggered rumours, reported initially by the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti, that the 2007 world champion and current world rally championship driver might be negotiating his return to Formula One.

Raikkonen's spokesman Riku Kuvaja responded by saying the situation for the 30-year-old former McLaren and Ferrari driver is "the same as before".

He would not confirm Haug's Swiss visit.

But at Silverstone on Friday, Haug himself confirmed the news but insisted their meeting was not about Raikkonen's future.

"I have been in contact with Kimi as a friend," said the German, who worked alongside Raikkonen between 2002-2006 at McLaren and was even a guest at the Finn's wedding.

As for Raikkonen's future, Haug said he has not discussed it with the rally driver. "Kimi will make a decision for himself," he said on Friday, according to MTV3.

"I do hope he comes back, because it would be a good thing for F1," added Haug.

Source: Motorsport

Rosberg 'completely happy' with Merc

Nico Rosberg is "completely happy" with Mercedes GP, according to a spokesman from the Silver Arrows.

Earlier this week, Rosberg reportedly delivered a damning assessment of the team's 2010 challenger, labelling the car "a disaster."

He also spoke to the the Cologne Express of his disappointment of moving from "Williams to Mercedes because I thought I'd have a car capable of winning" only to find himself behind both Williams cars, "who were nowhere weeks ago", in last weekend's Valencia GP.

However, a Mercedes spokesman has now told ESPNF1 that the 25-year-old's quotes were taken out of context, adding that the German is "completely happy with the Silver Arrows team."

Source: Planet F1

Rosberg: This is a disaster

It is going from bad to worse for Mercedes GP as Nico Rosberg has labelled the team's 2010 car a "disaster."

Switching from Williams to Mercedes GP at the end of last season, many expected Rosberg to be up there fighting for pole positions and even his first race victory.

But it was not to be.

Although he achieved two podium results in Malaysia and China, the German's results have subsequently slumped, although by no means as badly as his team-mate Michael Schumacher's.

With just 25 points in the last five grands prix, Rosberg has fallen to seventh in the Drivers' standings and there is little sign that things are coming right as the team suffered their race the last time out in Europe.

And Mercedes GP's fall from the top - the team having won the World titles under the Brawn GP banner in 2009 - has left Rosberg rather frustrated with his W01.

"This is a disaster," he told the Cologne Express.

"The problem with the tyres is well known within the team. For weeks, we have said we would move forward but nothing happened - in fact it we're going backwards."

Adding insult to injury, Rosberg also found himself trailing his former team Williams in the Europe GP.

"If you start in twelfth behind both Williams, who were nowhere weeks ago, what can you expect from there? I went from Williams to Mercedes because I thought I'd have a car capable of winning."

Meanwhile, team boss Ross Brawn admitted that time is running out for the team to salvage this year's Championship.

"We have not done our job well enough," admitted Brawn.

"First we have to bring our new aero package up to scratch. Depending on how the results look, we will then decide if we will focus early on next season."

Source: Planet F1

Fry: title not lost for Schumacher

Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry insists that Michael Schumacher is still able to challenge for the 2010 title, despite being 75 points and the exact equivalent of three race wins off the Drivers' Championship lead following the first eight rounds of the season.

Halfway through next weekend's European Grand Prix, F1 will hit the half distance point for the 2010 campaign, with Schumacher having made his return in Bahrain three months ago.

However, despite being hit by a run of helpless misfortunes early in the season, critics have slammed 7-time Champion's latest Montreal performance.

Notably, ex team-mate turned BBC television pundit Martin Brundle labelled the Canadian Grand Prix as the German's 'worst ever' - an agreed feeling with on-screen colleague Eddie Jordan, whose team presented Schumacher with a first F1 drive in 1991. Despite the heavy criticism, though, Fry defends his driver.

"I'm surprised people have reached those conclusions," he told The Guardian on Wednesday. "He was in a good position until the puncture but, when something like that happens, you get out of sequence.

"We also put him on the Option (softer compound) tyre slightly earlier than we maybe should have done, otherwise he would have been able to defend better than he did, but certainly from inside the team we see things in a totally different perspective.

"We don't really see any significant difference in performance between Nico (Rosberg) and Michael - one is getting the breaks and the other isn't at the moment.

"In sport, what goes around comes around. For those who have a run of luck, that frequently comes to an end and the opposite happens. So we're very comfortable with Michael's performance and I can't see any reason why he won't come good. He continues to improve and he is going make a good job of it."

Asked if title chances are shelved for this year, Fry's response was clear: "Absolutely not. It's all part of the learning process. I think he, and we as a team, will continue to work hard this year and do the best we can. We still want to be in the top three. Red Bull and McLaren are fairly dominant but Ferrari have had a mixed season."

Source: GP Update

The Secret Life of... Nico Rosberg

He races for Mercedes GP, his best finish was second at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, he’s scored 149.5 points from 78 starts and he’s the 24 year-old son of a former world champion. These are just a few things we do know about Nico Rosberg. A driver, however, is more than his statistics, his team or even his famous father. We delve a little deeper to find out about Rosberg’s fear of heights, his love of backgammon and cycling, and his youthful obsession with The Lion King…

Q: Are you the kind of guy to have a ‘Plan-B’?
Nico Rosberg: Yes, sure. I’m very flexible so having a ‘Plan-B’ is the natural thing. If ‘Plan-A’ doesn’t work I don’t waste my time and move on to something else. (FIA president) Jean Todt once said that you have to be ahead of the problem and not behind it. I couldn’t agree more!

Q: Apart from driving a Formula One car, what is your favourite buzz?
NR: Playing soccer. And lately I’m into cycling. As for lazier things, it’s playing backgammon. I am a huge back backgammon fan - it’s our traditional family game.

Q: Who do you most look forward to seeing when you arrive in the paddock on a Thursday?
NR: I guess my engineers. We get along really well and it is always interesting to start the weekend together.

Q: Who is your dream date?
NR: My girlfriend would sound a bit boring, wouldn’t it? Someone I would like to meet is Lance Armstrong because I am into cycling myself at the moment. I would like to hear from him how to best enhance your performance.

Q: Which film last made you cry?
NR: It was The Lion King. I must have been seven years-old. A film that I’ve really enjoyed was Catch Me If You Can with Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s such a racy title! And Inside Man. Clive Owen is one of my favourite actors.

Q: What are you afraid of?
NR: Heights, and my nightmare would be to fall.

Q: What was the last book you read?
NR: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer about his 1996 ascent of Mount Everest that ended in catastrophe, with eight climbers killed. I read a lot and biographies are amongst my favourites.

Q: What is your favourite way to relax?
NR: Reading, doing sports, and chilling out with friends.

Q: Name five things that you hate?
NR: Being late - and I have the problem that I’m always late. I hate it. It has something to do with discipline. I’m working on it. What else? Arrogance, crookedness, crime.

Q: Have you ever dyed your hair?
NR: I’ve never done that, but maybe one day. Who knows…

Q: What was the first CD that you bought?
NR: Either Michael Jackson’s Thriller or probably Elton John’s Lion King soundtrack? I think it was The Lion King CD. I’d been whingeing after I saw the film until my mum took pity on me and bought it.

Q: Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
NR: No. And I don’t plan to.

Q: What did your teachers say about you in your school report?
NR: Competent, but impatient. Some sort of Fidgety Philip.

Q: Who were your childhood heroes?
NR: Mika Hakkinen. Mika was a real hero of mine.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures?
NR: That I’m sometimes a smart alec.

Q: Do you collect anything?
NR: No.

Q: What do you miss most about home when you’re travelling?
NR: The privacy, my family, my friends and a sort of mundane daily routine.

Q: What was your worst buy?
NR: I’ve never had one.

Q: How do you take your coffee?
NR: I don’t drink coffee. The only caffeine I have is in the gel that I use for cycling.

Q: Your ideal non-race Sunday morning?
NR: Get up very early, go cycling for three hours and then have brunch at the beach with family and friends.

Q: What was your first car?
NR: That was quite something. It was an Audi RS6. My dad gave it to me because safety was very important to him and he didn’t want to see me in one of these micro cars.


Q: What’s the most embarrassing mistake you’ve ever made?
NR: Ha, this morning it popped up in my mind again. I cannot tell because it is so embarrassing!

Q: What is the best thing that you can cook?
NR: Fried eggs on toast.

Q: When was the last time you were really angry?
NR: I don’t tend to get really furious. I’m a very balanced person. If it happens then it always has something to do with the family, but then it is over in the next minute.

Source: Formula1.com

Schu staying put as Mercedes looks towards 2011

Michael Schumacher looks set to stay at Mercedes in 2011.

The famous German, who initially retired in 2006, is believed to have signed a three-year contract prior to returning to formula one this season.

But after a difficult re-acclimatisation, it had been widely speculated that the 41-year-old might prefer to step back out of the race cockpit at the end of 2010.

Boss Ross Brawn said in Turkey that he hopes both Schumacher and Nico Rosberg stay at the team in 2011.

Schumacher's younger brother Ralf also thinks the seven time world champion is staying put.

"I think he's pretty happy with what he's doing and, as far as I know, it's a three-year plan, so I'm sure we'll see him around for a while," he told 422race.com.

And Schumacher himself is quoted as saying on Thursday: "For me this is not a one-year project."

That commitment might lead to Mercedes eventually calling off development of the silver MGP-01 in order to concentrate early on its 2011 successor.

"By mid-season, we must look to put the F-duct in and catch up to the top," Brawn added. "If it is worthwhile to keep attacking then we will do it, if not we will concentrate everything on 2011."
The Briton told Italy's Autosprint magazine that he still thinks the pacesetting Red Bull cars are still within reach.

"Some aspects of their car is different from all the others," he explained. "Other teams will introduce these elements in the next races.

"I know that everyone is looking with great interest at their exhaust system," said Brawn.

Source: F1 Complete

Nico Rosberg visits Germany National Football Team (photos)

On Tuesday, June 1, Nico Rosberg visited the German national football team who are preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup at their training camp in Eppan, South Tyrol.

A keen football player and supporter, Nico met the team’s manager Joachim Löw and had a kick-about on the training pitch with captain Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski and Peer Mertesacker. He also met Wolfgang Hochfellner, the man who drives the team around in their Mercedes-Benz coach. The side panels of the team bus advertise the German team’s 4. Stern für Deutschland (Fourth Star for Germany) campaign.

The partnership between the DFB (German Football Association) and Mercedes-Benz began in 1972 and the World Cup campaign organised by Mercedes-Benz offers all fans of the national team two ways of showing their support: firstly by wearing the official badge and secondly by registering on the campaign website at www.der-vierte-stern-fuer-deutschland.de

Click here to view more

Source: Mercedes Benz

Alonso not surprised by Schumi move

Fernando Alonso admits the fact that Michael Schumacher overtook him during the closing stages of the Monaco GP didn't surprise him.

Confusion reigned after the race as to whether the move on Alonso was legal as the green light went up moments after the Safety Car returned to the pits at the final corner. However, the stewards deemed it illegal and slapped the seven-time World Champion with a 20-second penalty.

Alonso, though, insists the rules are clear and says he wanted to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but his team told him not to do it.

"The team told me over radio that we could not overtake," he told spox.com. "I wanted to attack Lewis Hamilton, but I was forbidden by the team to do it. The fact that Michael went ahead to pass me did not surprise me."

Alonso, who finished the race in sixth place following Schumacher's penalty, says there was never any doubt that the German would be punished.

"I was calm and that was later confirmed by the stewards, who put things right," he wrote in his Ferrari blog.

It was a "bittersweet" weekend for Alonso in Monaco. He was forced to watch qualifying from the team garage after he smashed his car during practice. However, he had a much better race as he moved from the back of the pack to sixth.

"In terms of the points I picked up, it was not good enough, especially as we were in the right shape to fight for the win," he added in his Ferrari blog. "Following on from Barcelona, where we were not fast enough to win, on the Monaco track, where aerodynamics is less important, we were more competitive.

"Sunday was very satisfying. We were aware that if we wanted to finish in the points, everything had to be perfect: the car, strategy, overtaking and tyres. And that was indeed the case."

Source: Planet F1

Moss: I would have done the same as Michael

Sir Stirling Moss has revealed that, having watched the incident between Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, he would have reacted in the same way had he been in the German's position. The 7-time World Champion was handed a 20-second penalty for overtaking under Safety Car conditions although the Englishman feels that the regulations must be amended.

As the Safety Car returned to the pit lane on the final lap in Monte-Carlo, green flags and lights were displayed around the circuit - meaning, under normal circumstances, that the field had returned to full racing conditions.

However, with the sporting rules stating that no more passing is permitted if the Safety Car has been in use on the last lap, former driver Moss is sure that the guideline must be revised before the next race.

"The whole issue hinges on the lights going green and it's a racer's instinct to react to a green light or a green flag," Moss, who clinched victory for Mercedes in the 1955 British Grand Prix, explained to GPUpdate.net on Wednesday morning.

"On top of that, ten teams appeared to have advised their drivers to start racing again. By the letter of the law it was safe to race - really the lights should have stayed yellow and there would have been no confusion."


Furthermore, Sir Stirling believes that Schumacher performed in the correct manner under the circumstances. "I'm sure Michael did the right thing at the time and if I was in the same place I would have some exactly the same thing," he continued, stressing that the rule must be modified to avoid such perplexities in the future:

"The upshot is, the rule needs clarifying for next time in order to prevent confusion and so that drivers and teams are clear on what they can or cannot do under those circumstances."

GPUpdate.net is also pleased to report that Sir Stirling continues to make a rapid recovery from his shocking domestic accident in March and is now able to walk unaided, barely ten weeks later.
Source: GP Update

Schumi insists: We were back to racing

Michael Schumacher has defended his passing move on Fernando Alonso in Sunday's Monaco GP, insisting "we were back to racing conditions."


With the Safety Car coming in on the very last lap of the Monte Carlo race in order to allow Mark Webber to take the chequered flag, the message 'Safety Car in, track clear' was displayed and the green flags were waved. Schumacher took advantage of a somewhat sedate Alonso, passing him at the final corner to take sixth place.

However, the German's move was immediately called into question by the stewards, who after three hours of deliberation ruled that it was illegal based on Article 40.13, which states that "if the race ends whilst the Safety Car is deployed it will enter the pit lane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking."

Schumacher was handed a 20-second penalty, which saw him drop out of the points and down into 12th place.

Mercedes GP are appealing the decision, a move that Schumacher agrees with as he firmly believes that the message of 'track clear' meant he was allowed to race in the metres between the Safety Car line and the finish line.

"My race would have been pretty normal without the decision of the stewards afterwards," he said.

"The result in the very end, which put me back to twelfth place for now, was obviously disappointing for me and I can fully understand that we are appealing the decision.

"Our understanding was that the 'safety car in, track clear' message meant we were back to racing conditions, so I went for it and overtook Fernando."

Team boss Ross Brawn added that in his opinion racing was allowed because the grand prix was not finishing behind the Safety Car, which meant Article 40.13 was not valid.

"With regard to the penalty given to Michael, we believed that the track had gone green and the race was not finishing under a Safety Car when article 40.13 clearly would have applied.

"The reason for the Safety Car had been removed, the FIA had announced 'Safety Car in this lap' early on lap 78 and the track had been declared clear by race control. This was further endorsed when the marshals showed green flags and lights after safety car line one.."

Meanwhile, Damon Hill, an old time nemesis of Schumacher's who took the role of drivers' representative for the race, insists he made the right call, denying claims that it was a bit of revenge for their 1994 collision.

Hill told BBC Sport: "Believe me my only concern was that the right thing was done, if that was the case consistently things would be better.

"But there was a wry smile from Michael. Slightly ironic you could say."

Source: Planet F1

Rosberg apologises to Schu after block

Michael Schumacher accepted an apology from his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the hours after qualifying at Monaco.

After the seven time world champion told reporters he had been blocked in Q3 by the younger German, Rosberg later said: "I apologised because I realised that it wasn't ideal."

The Brackley based team also took a portion of the blame, admitting that the radio and GPS systems have not been working well in the Principality.

Boss Ross Brawn conceded that Schumacher, who has been outqualified by Rosberg at every grand prix venue this year except Barcelona a week ago, was initially "annoyed" about the incident.

"But when I explained to him what happened he was ok, just frustrated," said the Briton.

And he said it was a mistake to have the two W01 cars circulating nose-to-tail, following a problem getting "Nico's car out of the garage".

"We cocked up," admitted Brawn.

Source: F1 Complete

Deutsche Post joins Mercedes as sponsor

The Mercedes GP team has confirmed that it has signed a sponsorship deal with Deutsche Post, Europe's largest mail service company and the market leader for the German letter and parcel market.

Formerly in Formula 1 with Jordan - under subsidiary company DHL as well as with its parent company - plus having sponsored Timo Glock for much of the German's career, Deutsche Post is now an official partner of the reigning Champion.

The emblem of the world's largest logistics company, founded in 1995 and based in Bonn, will now been seen on the chassis and front wings of the cars driven by Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.

"We are very pleased to welcome Deutsche Post to Mercedes GP and to feature the 'Post Horn' logo on our MGP W01 cars from the Monaco Grand Prix onwards," Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry commented on Wednesday.

"The team has been very successful in attracting new partners over the past months and Deutsche Post is a very welcome addition. We look forward to developing our relationship further over the coming months."

Source: GP Update

Brawn: Rosberg will soon win in F1

Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn says he feels it won't be long before Nico Rosberg is able to take to the top of the F1 podium.

Rosberg has secured top three finishes so far this season to sit second in the championship standings after four races, ten points behind defending champion Jenson Button ahead of next weekends Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

That race will see Mercedes introduce a series of improvements to the W01 and while he admitted that he was disappointed that Rosberg hadn't been able to win in China, Brawn said that he felt the German would soon be on top of the podium.

"We've not had a fantastic start but we are still in there because no-one else is really dominating either," told Reuters. "There is still plenty of opportunity.

"I was frustrated at the in China because Nico could have won that race. He made one mistake in very difficult circumstances.

"He's very close to winning a race, just needs things to fall into place...but that will come.”

Source: Crash