Mercedes GP debuts Their Team F1 Car

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Guaranteed to be Formula 1's most watched team with being built from the foundation of last year's F1 Constructor Champion, Mercedes GP has been catching major headlines through luring 7-time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher from retirement. At a January 25th event inside the Mercedes-Benz Museum located in Stuttgart, Germany the Mercedes GP team introduced a vehicle which they intend to honour the automotive history within the building's walls.

The first Formula 1 team to unveil their competition car for the 2010 grand prix season, Mercedes GP team drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg joined a Silver Arrow-inspired Petronas-sponsored MGP-W01 race machine. In front of a crowd of selected 600 guests consisting of 200 media members and 200 Mercedes-Benz Employees, driver Nico Rosberg brought light to the atmosphere stating "You can really feel the successful motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz here at the Museum in Stuttgart and to be part of the new Silver Arrows team and that racing heritage makes me feel extremely proud and motivated." Mercedes GP team principal and minority team owner Ross Brawn was also taken aback by the event. "With your first look around the Museum, you realise the fantastic racing heritage of Mercedes-Benz and we hope to be able to contribute to those successes going forward." This time last year Brawn, having bought the assets of the former Honda F1 team, showed off his one and only Brawn GP entry in much less fanfare.

Racing legend Michael Schumacher, looking forward to his first year of Formula 1 competition since 2006, sums up his motivation for driving a race vehicle with the famous tri-star badge. "I am convinced that MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go. Driving for Mercedes-Benz again is like the closing of a circle for me as I started my racing driver career with the three-pointed star on my helmet. This is another reason why I cannot wait for the competition to get underway.”


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Following a previous article, I must apologize that I might have misled readers to believe that the Mercedes GP team were going to introduce their car in Valencia, Spain. In truth, the Mercedes GP car will be tested for the first time.

Involved in Formula 1 since 1993, The German car company maintained largely an engine supply role. Mercedes-Benz did acquire a 40 percent stake in McLaren, an ownership sum that will be sold back to the team for 2011. In the 2010 Formula 1 season Mercedes-Benz makes a return as an engine and chassis combination after a 55-year absence.

Mercedes-Benz Buys Majority Stake In Brawn GP; Becoming Mercedes Grand Prix in 2010

Image Acquired From Brawn GP/Mercedes Grand Prix


Winning the 2009 Formula 1 constructor champion by winning 8 times in their first season with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello driving, Brawn GP was the Cinderella story of modern auto racing. Spun off the less than successful factory Honda Formula 1 team, former Ferrari and Renault technical director Ross Brawn retained the personal of the past team but sought the power of a Mercedes-Benz powerplant. As Brawn GP reveled as their Mercedes-Benz engines, few would have known that the German automaker wished to end their customer relationship. Instead, Mercedes-Benz (under parent company Daimler AG) decided to evolve their customer into their new factory team for 2010.

Announced Monday, Daimler AG, partnered with Abu Dhabi-based principal investment firm Aabar Investments PJSC, bought over 75.1% controlling interest to the one-year Formula 1 entrant Brawn GP. Renaming the team Mercedes Grand Prix, minority team owner and team leader Ross Brawn will continue to have an important presence in the new team.

While Brawn GP gains the factory support of Mercedes-Benz, The German auto giant also announced a change in their 14-year relationship with McLaren Mercedes Formula One. With Mercedes-Benz already possessing a 40 percent stake in this previous partnership, a preparation has been made for McLaren to buy back Mercedes-Benz's share of the team by 2011. However, as the auto manufacturer divests their interest from McLaren, Mercedes-Benz has also entered into a long-term engine supply deal for the Mclaren F1 team through the 2015 season.