Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2013: Jenson, Sergio and Martin share their thoughts ahead of the Sakhir stage

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The Bahrain International Circuit was the first Formula 1-spec track to be built in the Middle East. Located at Sakhir, 30km south west of Bahrain’s capital city Manama, the track was completed in 2003 and it’s one of seven circuits on this year’s calendar to have been designed by German architect Hermann Tilke.

The 5.4km layout is made up of four long straights, all of which funnel into heavy braking zones and clear overtaking places.

There are also some tricky medium-speed corners that require a good car balance, and a demanding off-camber second-gear left-hander (Turn 10), where it’s easy to lock the loaded inside front wheel. Car set-up is a compromise between straight-line speed and cornering grip, and with ambient temperatures expected to exceed 35 degrees this weekend, teams will also need to be mindful of cooling.

The abrasive asphalt, which is made from granite imported from Wales, has prompted Pirelli to take its Medium and Hard compounds to the race – the same specifications that were used at the Malaysian Grand Prix last month, at which Sergio Perez scored his first World Championship points for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

Fast facts: Bahrain International Circuit

- Race distance: 57 laps (308.238km/191.539 miles)
- Start time: 15:00 (local)/07:00 (GMT)
- Circuit length: 5.451km/3.387 miles
- 2012 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing RB8) 57 laps in 1hr35m10.990s (202.151km/h)
- 2012 pole: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing RB8) 1m32.422s (198.739km/h)
- Lap record: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2004) 1m32.238s (212.749km/h)

McLaren at the Bahrain Grand Prix

- Wins: 0
- Poles: 0
- Fastest laps: 2 (2005, ’08)

Car 5: Jenson Button

- Age: 33 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 231
- Wins: 15
- Poles: 8
- Fastest laps: 8

“The Sakhir circuit requires a good overall car balance. There are some tricky and technical low-speed changes of direction; you need to place the car really precisely at the corner entry in order to maximise traction at the exit. And there are also some high-speed sweeps – Turns Six and Seven, for example – and some fast corners, such as the uphill left-hander at Turn 11. You need a good front-end, but also good traction, to get the best from those corners.

“It’s a place where the grip levels can be quite hard to anticipate, and where the wind direction can play quite an important part in determining the car’s balance. The wind can affect top speed and cornering performance, so practice will be more important than ever in enabling us to take the best overall package into qualifying and the race.”

Car 6: Sergio Perez

- Age: 23 (January 26 1990)
- GPs: 40
- Wins: 0
- Poles: 0
- Fastest laps: 2

“The Bahrain Grand Prix circuit has plenty of run-off and a good combination of high- and low-speed corners. The challenge for the drivers comes from the constantly evolving nature of the corners, and dealing with the sand – which gets blown onto different areas of the track from the surrounding desert.

“With two DRS zones, I think we should see some decent racing: the two best overtaking opportunities are into the Turn One and Turn Four hairpins. They’re both good places to attack – you can force another driver onto the inside line and then attack on the exit, when they’re more vulnerable. The second DRS zone will mainly be used to close the gap down to the car in front, before attacking again along the pits straight.”

Martin Whitmarsh - Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“Bahrain marks the end of the opening fly-away leg of the 2013 world championship. That being the case, following on in quick succession from last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, we'll look to consolidate our achievements in Shanghai with further solid points finishes this weekend.

“While the first three races haven’t been the easiest for us, there’s been a little progress at every round, and we’ll be looking for another improved showing, as well as the opportunity to increase our understanding of MP4-28, in Bahrain this weekend.

“The work that goes on at the track is only the tip of the iceberg, though. There's been an incredible amount of effort expended back at the McLaren Technology Centre [Woking, UK], so as to ensure that the delivery of new parts, and the evaluation of fresh ideas, remain constant.

“I therefore want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's contributed to that work. Your efforts never go unnoticed, and the development trend is in the right direction.”

A McLaren 50 classic moment
Bahrain Grand Prix, 15 April 2007

Lewis Hamilton finishes second to become the first driver in history to finish on the podium in his opening three Formula 1 races.

He qualifies second and makes a strong start to hold off team-mate Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen into the first corner. As he starts to line up pole-sitter Felipe Massa, the Safety Car is deployed following a first-lap collision between Jenson Button and Scott Speed. At the restart, Massa holds off Lewis into Turn One and that’s how the order remains during the early laps.

The first round of pitstops produces no change at the front and when Massa makes his second stop, Lewis stays out for four more laps. He finds himself seven seconds behind the Brazilian when he emerges from his pitstop and an exciting climax to the race follows as he reels in the Ferrari every lap.

In the end, Lewis runs out of time to challenge for the lead and he crosses the line 2.3s behind the Brazilian. This is his second consecutive second-place finish and leaves him equal on points with Alonso and Raikkonen at the top of the drivers’ championship.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2013: Nico, Lewis, Ross and Toto preview the fourth race of the season at Sakhir

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Formula One heads straight from Shanghai in China to the Middle East this week with Round Four, the Bahrain Grand Prix, taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Sunday 21 April.

- The Bahrain International Circuit sees the cars exceed 300 km/h on four separate occasions

- 11 of the circuit´s 15 corners are taken at 200 km/h or less, in fourth gear or lower

- There are eight braking events around the lap, with five of them classed as heavy braking zones

Nico Rosberg
“I´ll be really happy to get back in the car again on Friday after a tough weekend in Shanghai. The first three races haven´t quite worked out as we had hoped on my side but the positive is that we have a car that we can really work with. So I´m looking forward to getting on with this weekend and the circuit at Sakhir is one that I like very much. It´s going to be very tough on the rear tyres and our biggest challenge will be to make the most out of the situation. We´re better prepared than we were last year and we have shown that the car is much stronger so I really hope that we can achieve a great result in Bahrain.”

Lewis Hamilton
“The weekend in China was really positive for both me and the team. With each race, I am becoming more settled in the team and more comfortable in my car, and we were very happy with the pole and podium finish. There are some areas where we need to improve to close that gap to the fastest cars and we´re working hard to identify and develop those. There´s a limit to what we can do before Bahrain but I´ll be talking to my engineers before we arrive at the circuit and seeing where we can improve in the short term. The Bahrain circuit is a real challenge, particularly for the tyres with overheating and also the sand on the track, but this helps to make it unique. The layout has a great combination of fast, slow and medium corners which make it tough for the drivers and the car, so it will be a true test for us. I can´t wait to get back in the car and see what we can do.”

Ross Brawn
“With three race weekends under our belts, Bahrain will be the final race of the season-opening quartet. With very different track conditions at each venue, this should give us a good understanding of the car that we have to work with for the rest of the season. The performances so far have been pleasing and perhaps even beyond our pre-season expectations however there is work to be done. We have two main areas to focus on; we must improve the reliability and we have to lift our performance to find that extra couple of tenths to our fastest competitors. And of course, that´s a moving target to make the challenge even tougher. A strong two car finish will be our target this weekend, and we want to see both Nico and Lewis in a position to score not only points but podiums regularly. We´ve had a taste of success already this season and the slight feeling of disappointment with third place in China is our motivation.”

Toto Wolff
“After three races, we have an equal balance of reasons to be pleased and areas we need to improve. Two podium finishes in two races for Lewis represent a strong start to the season. That shows our car is competitive in different conditions and on different types of circuit. But two technical retirements for Nico in three races are not acceptable, and everybody is working flat out at the factory to make sure we hit our target of bringing both cars to the finish at every race. Inside the team, the atmosphere is calm and motivated, with Nico and Lewis pushing everybody forward with their strong performances. Bahrain will provide another new challenge, with the combination of high temperatures, dust conditions and heavy demands on the rear tyres. We will need a smooth and reliable weekend to collect the required data for making the right decisions on Sunday.”

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Chinese F1 Grand Prix 2013: Jenson, Sergio and Martin share their thoughts ahead of the Shanghai stage

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The Shanghai International Circuit was built on marshland to the north west of Shanghai in 2004. The scale of the project, with its two nine-storey pit buildings, 29,000-seat main grandstand and ornate paddock pavilions, was bigger than anything previously seen in Formula 1; it was what circuit designer Hermann Tilke described as “a race circuit for the new millennium”.

The 5.451km track has an eclectic mix of corners and one very long straight, at the end of which lies the best overtaking point on the lap. The circuit’s technical demands are similar to those of Sepang, scene of the last grand prix in Malaysia, but the cooler ambient and track temperatures expected in China are going to place greater emphasis on tyre wear.

Turns 1 and 13 are particularly demanding on man and machine. The cars enter Turn 1 at 185mph and scrub off more than 140mph while turning right through 180 degrees towards the blind apex. Turn 13 is another 180-degree right-hander that opens up towards the exit as the cars accelerate throughout. Both corners will be a stern test for Pirelli’s Soft and Medium compound tyres.

McLaren has a good record at the Chinese Grand Prix, having won the race three times (in 2008, ’10 and ’11) and taken a total of nine podiums since the inaugural race in 2004.

- Race distance: 56 laps (305.066km/189.568 miles)
- Start time: 15:00 (local)/07:00 (GMT)
- Circuit length: 5.451km/3.387 miles
- 2012 winner: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W03) 56 laps in 1hr 36m 26.929s (189.778km/h)
- 2012 pole: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W03) 1m 35.121s (206.301km/h)
- Lap record: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2004) 1m32.238s (212.749km/h)

McLaren at the Chinese Grand Prix

- Wins: 3 (2008, ’10, ’11)
- Poles: 2 (2007, ’08)
- Fastest laps: 3 (2005, ’08, ’10)

Car 5: Jenson Button

- Age: 33 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 230
- Wins: 15
- Poles: 8
- Fastest laps: 8

“In a funny way, the Chinese Grand Prix almost feels like something of a reboot of the start of my season. Taking home two points from the first two races obviously wasn’t what we had in mind at the beginning of the year, but I think everybody in the team has picked themselves up and really attacked the task of addressing our car’s issues. We know where we’re losing performance, so I think we’re actually all looking forward to seeing just what we can achieve in Shanghai.

“As far as the circuit goes, I’ve always enjoyed racing here: our car has always performed well around this circuit and we’ve always seemed to be able to find a good balance between the slow stuff, the high-speed changes of direction and the drag-loss needed for the long straight. It’s a pretty good place for racing, too, because that straight offers such a good opportunity for slipstreaming and overtaking. I think we can have a pretty good race next weekend, too.

“The important thing for us as a team is to go into the weekend with clear focus, hone our strengths across the sessions and increase our understanding of the car. I definitely think there’s everything to play for with this championship, and I can’t wait to get back into the cockpit to start the fight again.”

Car 6: Sergio Perez

- Age: 23 (January 26 1990)
- GPs: 39
- Wins: 0
- Poles: 0
- Fastest laps: 2

“I think there’s been a little time to breathe after the first two races of the season. That’s been important for us, as we’ve been able to get back to MTC and really throw all our efforts behind the modifications we need to make the car perform more consistently. For me, it’s been incredible to not only see the speed of the team’s reaction, but also the positive way that everyone has pulled together to make those changes. It’s been an incredible team effort.

“So, we go into round three, and I feel there’s a lot of positivity within the team. We know that we somewhat under-performed in Australia and Malaysia, but, Jenson and I nonetheless managed to score some points. We may not have been as far up the order as we’d have liked, but those points-finishes mean the team has now extended its unbroken scoring run to 60 races – that’s pretty incredible, and a nice record to be able to maintain.

“Like everyone within the team, I’m really looking forward to China – it’s a great track with a little bit of everything – and I think it’ll be a good test of the car.”

Martin Whitmarsh - Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“Clearly, our performance in Australia and Malaysia fell below the high standards we’ve come to expect at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. However, the three-week break between rounds two and three has been a useful one; we have been fully engaged in further developing our understanding of the MP4-28 and are confident of being able to implement a number of changes this weekend that will widen its operating window and, potentially, improve its performance.

“The team’s ability to respond has been exemplary; as I’ve already said, the behaviour of both Jenson and Checo has been superb. They have shown themselves to be true, inspirational leaders, and they have held themselves high, as real ambassadors for our team. The engineers, designers and mechanics, too, have worked tirelessly and painstakingly to unlock the car’s potential, and we feel confident that we are starting to turn the page.

“Formula 1 is an unpredictable beast. We’ve enjoyed some very competitive weekends in Shanghai in the past – with some equally unexpected results – and I feel confident and excited that we head to China next week with the hope of making further progress and eating into the advantage currently held by the leading pack.”

A McLaren 50 classic moment
Chinese Grand Prix, 18 April 2010

Jenson Button takes his second victory in four races for McLaren. As was the case at the Australian Grand Prix a few weeks earlier, he proves the master of mixed weather conditions.

Light rain before the start mixes up tyre strategies at the Shanghai International Circuit. Most front-runners opt for intermediates, but Jenson – starting fifth - fits slicks and that decision lays the foundations for his success. Soon after the start, the rain eases and Jenson benefits when all but one of the cars in front of him peels into the pitlane for dry tyres.

Race leader Nico Rosberg makes a mistake on lap 19, allowing Jenson to take the lead that he never loses. However, it isn’t plain sailing for the British driver. The Safety Car is deployed mid-race while marshals remove debris from Jaime Alguersuari’s Toro Rosso, once again bunching up the front-runners.

At the re-start, Jenson gets the jump on the field and he leads the final phase of the grand prix convincingly. When more rain falls in the closing stages, all of the cars pit for intermediate tyres and Jenson crosses the line 1.5s ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton to give McLaren’s its first 1-2 finish since the 2007 Italian Grand Prix.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Chinese F1 Grand Prix 2013: Nico, Lewis, Ross and Toto preview the third race of the season at Shanghai

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The Formula One season resumes next week with the third round, the 2013 UBS Chinese Grand Prix, taking place at the 5.451 km Shanghai International Circuit, located 40 kms outside of the city. This year´s race will be the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Grand Prix which made its debut during the 2004 season.

• ´Shanghai specialist´ Nico has led 78 of a total of 168 laps (46%) in the past three years in China
• Nico and Lewis have won the last two Chinese Grands Prix in 2012 and 2011 respectively
• Mercedes-Benz is the most successful engine manufacturer in China, with four wins in the past five races
• Shanghai has a medium Safety Car risk, with deployments in one third of the nine races so far

Nico Rosberg
“I travel to China next week with very good memories from winning my first Formula One race in Shanghai last year, and having led the race there for the past three years. I enjoy the Shanghai track a great deal and I have a positive feeling going there with the car that we have at the moment. The team have been working very hard to develop our car since returning from Malaysia and I will be at the factory on Monday to complete my preparations in the simulator for the next two races. We´ve had a strong start to the season and I´m confident that we can keep pushing and hopefully score some good results in China and Bahrain.”

Lewis Hamilton
“I´m looking forward to getting to China next week and going racing again; it feels like a long time since Malaysia! My first two races with my new team have been a great experience and everyone has made me feel so welcome. We´ve had a better start than we expected and to have finished in fifth and third places so far is really positive. I know there is much more to come so we will keep working hard and pushing the development of the car. I´ll be at the factory this weekend and look forward to hearing about the work that´s gone on in the last couple of weeks and the upgrades that we will take to China.”

Ross Brawn
“The Chinese Grand Prix of course holds great memories following the first win for Nico and our Silver Arrows team in Shanghai last year. That win was an extremely proud occasion for us all and certainly one that we hope to emulate in the future. Our season has started well, perhaps better than we expected, however we´re fully aware that there is still a gap to close and that we must keep up the pace of development. A lot of hard work has taken place at our factories over the last two weeks to do just that and I look forward to seeing how that translates to track performance. The Chinese Grand Prix race is well established now in its tenth year and it´s an important market for both Formula One and Mercedes-Benz. The circuit itself is challenging with fast curves, tight corners and two hairpins. The layout requires good straightline speed, braking stability and traction, and the temperatures are likely to be cooler than we have experienced in the first two race weekends.”

Toto Wolff
“One year on from Nico´s win, a lot of people will be asking whether this is something our team can repeat in 2013. But like they say, yesterday´s home runs don´t win today´s games, and that´s definitely true for us. We start again from zero this year and need to work hard to adapt the car to suit the circuit and the tyre compounds we have available, in the conditions that we find on track next weekend. Then we will see where we stand relative to the competition. We have made a solid start to the season in the first two races with Nico and Lewis both performing at a very high and equal level. The development race will be critical this season so we have more new parts planned for China. Our aim has to be to improve on our good start to the season and continue scoring good points in both championships.”

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 2013: Jenson, Sergio and Martin share their thoughts ahead of the Kuala Lumpur stage

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Sepang was the first all-new Formula 1 circuit to be designed by Tilke GmbH, the company responsible for the construction of eight of the 19 tracks on the 2013 calendar. It is located alongside from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 60km from Kuala Lumpur itself.

The track has hosted a round of the world championship every year since 1999, making it the oldest of the new breed of government-funded circuits on the calendar. It’s popular with drivers and engineers alike, largely due to the variety of corners around the lap. The fast sweeps in sector two are a great test of aerodynamic performance, while traction and braking are vital through the slower sections.

The two DRS zones in this weekend’s 56-lap race will be located along the two longest straights, making Turns One and 15 the most obvious overtaking opportunities. The run from the start line to Turn One is 660m, the second longest in F1, and it’s sure to create plenty of action on lap one.

If the race is dry, the heat and humidity will make this race one of the toughest on the calendar for man and machine; if it rains, as it did last year, survival will be key. McLaren has won this race twice, in 2003 and ’07, and both of our drivers have good records at Sepang. Jenson scored his first F1 podium at the track in 2004 and he won the race in ’09; Checo finished second in the race last year.

McLaren at the Malaysian Grand Prix

- Wins: 2 (2003, ’07)

- Poles: 1 (2012)

- Fastest laps: 4 (2000, ’01, ’05, ’07)

Car 5: Jenson Button

- Age: 33 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 229
- Wins: 15
- Poles: 8
- FLs: 8

“Australia was obviously a tough weekend and, despite getting the maximum out of the car, it’s still clearly not where we want to be. There's a lot of work to be done but we all know that this team won’t stop working until they get it right.

“For this weekend, I don’t think we can expect an improvement in our fortunes, but the thing about Malaysia is that it can be so unpredictable – particularly with the later start time on Sunday afternoon, which tends to see late-afternoon showers fall. We saw that last year, when Fernando won, and we know that the unpredictable weather can make it a lottery for everyone.

“That’s something that could play into our hands – I do enjoy driving in changeable conditions, and would love the challenge of being able to run competitively in a car that we all know is not quite capable of challenging for victories yet.”

Car 6: Sergio Perez

- Age: 23 (January 26 1990)
- GPs: 38
- Wins: 0
- Poles: 0
- FLs: 1

“Last weekend’s race was a difficult one for everybody on the team, but it’s shown us exactly what we need to do to close down the gap to the leaders. This weekend in Malaysia will be about trying to maximise the package we have while knowing that it’s not going to be enough to allow us to fight for overall victory.

“Still, we know what we have to do – and I know that everybody within the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team will be working incredibly hard to bring performance to the car. That may not happen in Malaysia, as it’s so soon after the Australian Grand Prix, but we know it’ll start coming soon.

“For me, Sepang holds many happy memories – I had one of the best races of my career there last year where I was able to push Fernando for victory until the closing laps. It’s a fantastic circuit, really fast and demanding. It would be great to pull off another unexpected result for the team this year.”

Martin Whitmarsh - Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“Clearly, our performance in Australia last weekend was not up to our high expectations – and we have been working tirelessly to bring additional performance to MP4-28. But the short turnaround between rounds one and two of the championship means that we’ll arrive in Malaysia with less scope to improve our fortunes. This weekend, however, will provide us with additional opportunities to understand our car’s behaviour and to increase our understanding of the package.

“Nonetheless, the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix brings its own unique challenges; it’s one of the most physically demanding races of the year – for both the drivers and their machinery – and the race will be tough for all competitors. Both Jenson and Checo have gone well at this circuit in the past, and both put in excellent performances throughout the weekend in Australia, so I’m sure they’ll once again be pushing the car to its limit.”

A McLaren 50 classic moment
Malaysian Grand Prix, 23 March 2003

Following David Coulthard’s victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen maintains McLaren’s 100 percent record at the start of 2003. His emphatic victory at Sepang is also his maiden Formula 1 victory.

New qualifying regulations introduced in ’03 require the drivers to start with the same fuel load that they ended qualifying. As was the FIA’s intention, the rules mix up the grid: Fernando Alonso starts from pole position, with Coulthard fourth and Raikkonen back in seventh.

Kimi’s progress in the race is helped by a first corner incident that removes two of his main rivals. Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya are forced to pit on lap one after damaging their front and rear wings in the melee, resulting in Kimi leapfrogging up the order to fourth in his MP4-17D.

When Coulthard retires on lap two with an electrical problem, the Flying Finn is up to third and he seizes second a lap later when he scythes past the Sauber of Nick Heidfeld. He then sets about closing the gap to Alonso up front.

After qualifying with more fuel than the Renault driver, Kimi stays out five laps longer and emerges from the pits ahead. He’s never headed thereafter, coming home 39s ahead of Rubens Barrichello. It’s win number one for Kimi and win number 137 for McLaren.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 2013: Lewis, Nico, Ross and Toto preview the second race of the season at Kuala Lumpur

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The second round of the new Formula One season, the 2013 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix, takes place on Sunday 24 March at the Sepang International Circuit, just outside of Kuala Lumpur. The weekend marks the home race for PETRONAS, the title partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.

- This weekend will mark the 60th race for the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and PETRONAS

- The Safety Car led nearly 15% of the race laps - eight in total - during last year´s race

- 40% of the corners - six of 15 in total - are taken at speeds over 200 km/h at Sepang

Nico Rosberg
“Sepang is one of my favourite tracks on the Formula One calendar. The layout has a little bit of everything with the slow and fast corners making a nice mix. For our team, the Malaysian Grand Prix is also one of our home races as we´re racing in the country of our partner PETRONAS, and it´s always a busy and exciting weekend. Sepang holds some great memories for me as I achieved my first podium for Mercedes here at the start of the 2010 season. The conditions this weekend will be much hotter than in Australia so it will be a good test to see how the cars perform in such a different environment and how we can adapt to that. It often rains heavily and from my experience with the performance of the car in the rain in Melbourne, wet conditions would certainly be welcomed by me!”

Lewis Hamilton
“Malaysia is a beautiful country with great weather and great fans who are always so supportive, I´m really looking forward to seeing them. This weekend feels a little like a home race for the team with all of the activities for our title partner PETRONAS. I´m really looking forward to having my first visit to the top of the famous PETRONAS Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday before the weekend gets underway. Sepang is a fantastic circuit and one where I haven´t managed to win before. My favourite part of the track is probably turns five and six but it´s always an exciting challenge here with the heat and humidity. I´m very proud of the work that the team have done so far and I know that the guys are pushing hard back in the UK to bring more performance to the car. I hope we can have a positive weekend here and build on the progress that we made in Melbourne and on what we learned from that race.”

Ross Brawn
“The first race of the season provided some very encouraging signs for the team; our car performed well and seemed to be competitive in all of the conditions that the Melbourne weather gave us. However, we didn´t quite find the correct balance for the race which compromised our ability to maximise the starting positions of Lewis and Nico. With the second race in Malaysia following this weekend, we´re looking forward to the opportunity to put that right. Malaysia is one of the most special races of the season for our team and it´s a real honour to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of Formula One in the country with our title partner PETRONAS. We all hope to put on a good show this weekend for the Malaysian fans.”

Toto Wolff
“The challenge of Sepang will be completely different to what we saw in Melbourne last Sunday. Temperatures are guaranteed to be high and the circuit has many long, sweeping corners that demand consistent aerodynamic performance. All the teams are in a learning process with the new Pirelli tyres, as we saw last weekend with drivers in the same team delivering very different results. Our car showed some good potential at times in Australia and both Lewis and Nico performed strongly in all conditions. So our engineering focus is on improving the base performance and correcting our weaknesses, especially in terms of reliability. Of course, the PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix is also a home race for our MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team and our long-term title partner. They have supported this race, the sport and our team over many years and we are looking forward to a busy promotional schedule in the next days with the team and drivers. But for all of us, the most important thing is to deliver on the track on Sunday afternoon and that is what we are working hard to do.”

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Australian F1 Grand Prix 2013: Jenson, Sergio and Martin share their thoughts ahead of the Melbourne stage

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The Australian Grand Prix has been Formula 1’s curtain raiser for 15 of the last 17 seasons, and on each occasion the race has been staged at Albert Park in Melbourne. The temporary 5.303km/3.295-mile track winds its way around the park’s central lake and it has a predominance of second-gear right-hand bends and chicanes.

Aside from being the first race for the innovative Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-28, this year’s Rolex Australian GP marks the first time that Pirelli’s new Supersoft and Medium compounds will be raced. With higher track temperatures expected in Melbourne than was the case during winter testing in Europe, tyre wear is expected to become a decisive factor during the 58-lap race.

Albert Park has been a happy hunting ground for McLaren over the years. The team scored its first victory with Mercedes-Benz engines at the track and it has taken a total of six wins at the venue (1997, ’98, ’03, ’08, ’10 and ’12). Jenson has taken three victories in Australia and Sergio Perez, who makes his race debut for McLaren this weekend, finished in the points last season.

McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix

- Wins : 11 (1986,’88, ’91, ’92, ’93 – Adelaide; ’97, ’98, 2003, ’08, ’10, ’12 – Melbourne)

- Poles : 10 (1988, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’93 – Adelaide; ’98, ’99, 2000, ’08, ’12 – Melbourne)

- Fastest laps : 8 (1988, ’91 – Adelaide; ’98, 2002, ’03, ’06, ’08, ’12 – Melbourne)

Car 5: Jenson Button

- Age : 33 (January 19 1980)
- GPs : 228
- Wins : 15
- Poles : 8
- FLs : 8

“Wow, I can’t believe it’s come around already! It seems like only last week that I was standing on top of the podium in Sao Paulo; I really can’t believe that we’re all getting ready to board flights to Australia. It feels incredible – the time has gone by so quickly.

“But they say time flies when you’re having fun, and I’ve had a fantastic winter: I’ve never stopped training and working, and I feel incredibly fit and focused ahead of this new season.

“One of the most fascinating things about Formula 1 is the way it resets itself each and every winter. I’ve seen every side of that: you can have a terrible winter of testing, then turn up at the first race and be competitive; equally, you can look impressive in winter testing and be nowhere in Melbourne. If you’re lucky, it all comes together in the tests and you hit the ground running at the first race. That's always the goal.

“This year, I don’t think any team really knows or understands the competitive order. It’s been an extremely hard-to-read winter: varying fuel-loads and levels of tyre degradation mean that it’s hard to accurately predict who’ll arrive in Australia with the best-sorted car. But that’s part of the game.

“The start of a new season is always exciting as it’s the culmination of months of hard work and planning. I’ve had some great experiences in Melbourne, having won the race three times, and I love the place. There isn’t a better location in the world to be kicking off what will no doubt be a fiercely competitive world championship.”

Car 6: Sergio Perez

- Age : 23 (January 26 1990)
- GPs : 37
- Wins : 0
- Poles : 0
- FLs : 1

“It’s been an incredibly busy winter. Joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was always going to be a massively significant step in my career, but I immediately started to appreciate what makes this team such a consistent winning force: the dedication, motivation and attention to detail is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

“Of course, for me, there has been the additional challenge of getting to know a new car and new engineering systems, and learning the names and roles of the many people I work closely with in the organisation. But it’s never stopped being fun and I can already appreciate how useful that learning will be when I arrive in the pit garage in Melbourne to drive the car in a grand prix weekend for the first time.

“On top of all my acclimatisation, our winter has been extremely busy: there’s always a lot of work to do when you make significant changes to the car, and having only 12 days to iron out every single issue is never easy. However, we’ve had a productive three weeks of testing and we’re using every available opportunity to further refine the car before Melbourne.

“For me, arriving in Melbourne as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver will be an incredible honour. I’ve never worked harder over a winter to be ready for the new season, and I’m confident I’ve done everything within my reach to be ready. Now all I’m waiting for is for the red lights to go out next Sunday afternoon!”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“In the days leading up to the Australian Grand Prix, it’s fair to say that every team member of every Formula 1 team is looking over the precipice, balancing their hopes and fears, their nerves tensed in anticipation for the long slog ahead. It’s a tantalising prospect – and it’s one that keeps everyone who loves our sport coming back for more.

“At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, we’ve faced a challenging few weeks prepping our new MP4-28 for the 2013 season. The often cold and sometimes wet conditions we experienced during pre-season testing in Barcelona and Jerez made it difficult to operate the tyres consistently within their optimal performance window. That issue, combined with a handful of typical testing setbacks, gave us a few headaches, but as ever our engineers and mechanics did extremely well to complete as much useful running as they did. Well done, boys.

“But it was much the same for all the teams. As a result, anyone who says they already know in what order the cars will line up on the Albert Park starting grid on Sunday March 17th is a soothsayer of rare ability. Indeed, in truth, even after qualifying on Saturday March 16th, no Team Principal will be genuinely confident of his car’s race-spec performance relative to that of his principal opposition until the flag drops and the proverbial stops.

“In addition to that motor racing truism, it’s important to remember that our MP4-28 is a new and uncompromising design that we intend to develop aggressively throughout the year. Undoubtedly, it has great potential – and we fly to Melbourne determined to show well and to score points that should establish us in good stead for both the drivers’ and the constructors’ world championships.

“We’re still working tirelessly to bring more pace to the MP4-28’s performance envelope, and I believe we’ll arrive in Australia in decent shape. Having said that, we at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes never under-estimate our competitors, and we’re certainly not under-estimating them now. As I say, the MP4-28 is a new and uncompromising design, and I have great confidence that our design, development and engineering teams will work tirelessly to shave tenths off its lap-times for Melbourne, and for Sao Paulo, and for everywhere in between.”

A McLaren 50 classic moment
Australian Grand Prix, 26 October 1986

A breathless season-finale in Adelaide sees Alain Prost snatch the world title from under the noses of Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. The Frenchman enters the race six points behind Mansell in the drivers’ standings, but seals the title after a thrilling 82-lap battle with the Williams driver

Alain qualifies fourth in his Porsche-powered MP4/2C, more than a second behind Mansell’s pole position time. He drives a brilliantly tenacious race to overcome an early puncture and press the Williams drivers in the closing stages, just as tyre wear starts to prove critical.

Alain’s team-mate Keke Rosberg is the first to encounter difficulties, the Finn mistakenly believing a delaminating rear tyre is his engine letting go, and he parks his leading MP4/2C at the side of the track.

It is an omen: soon after, Mansell’s title hopes go bang when he suffers a high-speed puncture on the Brabham Straight with just 18 laps remaining. That hands the lead of the race – and potentially the world title – to team-mate Piquet, but Williams calls Piquet in for a precautionary pitstop, handing the lead to Prost.

Piquet closes the gap to Prost from 15s to 4s in the last 10 laps, but victory is enough to seal Prost’s second world title. To date he’s the only driver to have won the Australian Grand Prix in both World Championship and non-championship form, having taken victory in the non-championship 1982 Australian Grand Prix that was run for Formula Pacific cars at Calder Park Raceway in Melbourne.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Australian F1 Grand Prix 2013: Lewis, Nico, Ross and Toto preview the first race of the season at Melbourne

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The 2013 Formula One championship gets underway in Melbourne this week with the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, held at the Albert Park circuit in the city. For MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, 2013 sees an exciting new driver pairing with Lewis Hamilton joining the team to partner Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the Silver Arrows cars.

- The Safety Car has been deployed in six of the last ten races in Melbourne - including four of the last five

- Mercedes-Benz power has won four of the past five Australian Grands Prix

- 60% of Australian Grand Prix winners in the past decade have gone on to become World Champion

Lewis Hamilton
"It´s the start of a new season and the beginning of a new adventure for me with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. I can´t wait to get to Melbourne, get out on track and find out where we stand. The Australian Grand Prix is always an exciting race: the teams don´t know how they compare in terms of performance, the fans are fantastic and, with big changes to the tyres again this year, we just don´t know what will happen in the race. I love the circuit. It´s a street track with a really bumpy surface so you try and put as much downforce on the car as possible and it really puts the drivers to the test. We had a good, reliable car during winter testing so that´s the positive we can take with us into the weekend but we know that in terms of performance, everything begins again from zero in Friday practice. So let´s get Down Under, get racing and see how things turn out."

Nico Rosberg
"Melbourne is a great place to kick off the new Formula One season. I really like the city and the Australian fans at the circuit are always fantastic and so supportive. The first Grand Prix is where everyone finds out where they really are and we can judge how well we have done against our competition as the times in winter testing just don´t tell the full story. The weather in Melbourne looks very hot at the moment which is going to be a tough challenge as we have no experience with the F1 W04 in those conditions. Tyre degradation will be the biggest issue for everyone so we need to look at that carefully and do a good job in managing it. I´m really looking forward to next weekend and getting the season underway."

Ross Brawn
"The start of a new Formula One season is always an intense but exciting time for the team. Our factories in Brackley and Brixworth have been buzzing with activity with both Nico and Lewis visiting to complete their final preparations on the simulator, and the team working to finish the cars, engines and pack the freight for the four flyaway races coming up. The first race is where we can really begin to assess our competitive position and how much of a step forward we have made with our new Silver Arrow. We had a successful pre-season testing programme and personally, I am pleased with the progress we have made, both with the car and in terms of how we operate as a team. However, testing is simply that; racing is a completely different situation and Melbourne will see much higher track temperatures and more varied conditions than we have experienced so far. We´re looking forward to the challenge and to the action starting in Melbourne next weekend."

Toto Wolff
"When it comes to starting a new season, it´s only facts that count - everything else is simply speculation. The facts are that we had a good winter test programme, completed the second highest mileage of any team and made some good progress. Lewis and Nico are working well together and there is a positive dynamic in the team, from the factory to the track. So we head to Australia well prepared. But we know, too, that we will be running in very different temperatures, on a different track surface and that every team will have to finally lay their cards on the table in qualifying on Saturday. Only then can we have a first indication of where we stand in terms of performance. It may sound clichéd but our goal is simply to perform as well as possible. We know that we must go forward from last season and we are proud to be representing Mercedes-Benz on the global stage. Now we have to live up to that standard."

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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PREVIEW: New E-Class Coupe/Cabriolet 2013 intentionally teased in updated W/S 212 series video

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Shortly after the release of the first details, the new E-Class also received a webspecial which is available at http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e-class. As always, the newest addition to the Mercedes-Benz portfolio is highlighted in great style. Artistic lighting, superb music, excellent effects and a professional filming quality - these are the main attributes that best describe the presentation video for the new E-Class 2013. Only that after closely analyzing some sequences of the movie, a detail came to light.

If you scroll the video under the Highlights tab of the webspecial to 1:26, just when it emphasizes the new DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and the Active Blind Spot Assist, you will be witnessing the LED headlight of the soon-to-be-released E-Class Coupe/Cabriolet 2013 lineup (C 207/A 207). The lamp unit is clearly different in terms of design to the W/S 212 models, as the bottom is discontinued to create a similar styling as the one on the GLK, only that in a reverted way. Moreso, the inner graphics are also slightly distinct, with their longer LED eyelids.

For us, this is a clue the new E-Class Coupe/Cabrio will also be premiered in the next period. We are not sure whether Detroit is the destination, as this was already booked by the 212 series and the new CLA-Class. Anyway, we guess first official details should come out in late January or February while the public debut could take place in March at the Geneva Motor Show. But that's only a speculation, as we do not know anything for sure.

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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PREVIEW: The new 2013 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG will be an outrageous performance limo

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The new 2013 generation of the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG will be, according to sources, a true revelation among performance saloons. Not only will it have an updated styling, with a dynamic front end personalized with the addition of the fresh AMG twin-blade grille, the new headlights and the overall muscular look, but it will also boast major technical upgrades compared to the outgoing model. Motor Trend journalists were lucky enough to get a preview at a special pre-launch presentation event organized by the Affalterbach-based company and conducted by Mercedes-AMG head Ola Kaellenius and development chief Tobias Moers.

The two men gave the gathered press representatives a competent insight into the novelties the new 2013 E 63 AMG is bringing up on the market when launched in early January next year at the Detroit Motor Show.

First of all, this is the first AMG-prepped E-Class in history to utilize an all-wheel-drive traction system. It would have been an easy task to just head over to the Mercedes-Benz technology bin, pick up the already existing 4MATIC system and transplant it like so onto the new car. But, guess what? It would not have fitted the sports character of the E 63 AMG. That is why, as Tobias Moers further explains, the 4MATIC platform has undergone some severe tweaking as to deliver the desired performance. While in the standard version, it featured a variable front-to-rear ratio, in its AMG form, the 4MATIC sports a rear-biased, fixed 33%-67% transmission ratio. Moreover, many components used to build the new system are lighter or reduced in size, so that the overall kerb weight stays as low as possible.

If you were wondering what is going to happen with the V8 engine roaring under the front bonnet, then you are about to have a surprise. According to officials, the new 2013 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG will boast an intensively modified M157 V8 BITURBO unit with state-of-the-art direct injection and biturbo-charging, with 5.5 litres in displacement and no less than 575 hp as peak output - an increase of 50 hp compared to the current 525 hp value. The maximum amount of torque is yet to be communicated, but it could be pretty well over 700 Nm.

The forthcoming E 63 AMG series will also be equipped with the revolutionary Launch Control system which is taken straight from the SLS AMG. It features four individual programs: C (Comfort), S (Sport), S+ (Sport Plus) and Race Launch. In its high-end stage and helped by a skillful driver, also together with the impressive technical capabilities already mentioned, the car can easily do 0-100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, as Tobias Moers explains. Which is years faster than other current supercars can achieve.

The conclusion is simple, as Motor Trend journalists put it straightforward: big congrats to the AMG engineering team for their brilliant work! The upcoming Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG is already a car from the future, king in a class of its own. Now, the main competitors can't help but raise their hats as a sign of respect of front of the new king of the sports limousines' league.

Read the original article and view more pictures at:

- Motor Trend: 2014* Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic Development Mule First Look

* On the US market, the model is already catalogued as 2014 model year, but in Europe it stays 2013, the designation we use.

Image Credits: Motor Trend

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Brazilian F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview of the last round of the season (MBAMGF1 + VMM)

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I. MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS stars offer a preview to the 2012 Brazilian F1 Grand Prix

The final race of the 2012 Formula One season will take place at the historic Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo on Sunday 25 November. The Brazilian Grand Prix will also mark Michael Schumacher’s 308th and final Formula One race.

• Six of the last 10 Brazilian Grands Prix have featured safety car interventions
• In spite of a reputation for unsettled weather, only three of the last ten races have been affected by rain
• Eight of the last ten Brazilian Grands Prix have been won from the front row, including the past four in a row
• 15 of this season’s 19 races to date have been won from the front row, including 10 from pole

Michael Schumacher
“Interlagos is the right place to round off my career because so much of the fascination of Formula One is rooted there. I always enjoy the enthusiasm of the fans, and it’s simply a great circuit which has seen many memorable events and always produces spectacular races as the unique layout guarantees plenty of action. For me, it’s also the circuit that brings back my memories of Ayrton. My departure from Formula One will probably be less emotional for me this time than in 2006, when we were still fighting for the championship and everything was much more intense. This time round, I will be able to pay more attention to my farewell and hopefully savour it too. I have had fantastic years in Formula One and a lot of support from fans around the world, and I wish to particularly thank them for that. Of course, I would be happiest if I could say goodbye with a strong race, and I am sure we will be doing everything we can to make it happen.”

Nico Rosberg
“The final race in Brazil should be a great occasion with the world championship going right to the end of the season. Hopefully it will be another great show for the fans after the eventful race in Austin. I hope that we can also have a positive weekend with a good performance to end our season well. However our priority is still to learn as much as possible for next year, and we will be doing further work towards that. The weekend will be a special one for our team as Michael is retiring after three years with us. I wish him all the best for the future and it was a great experience for me to race with and against him.”

Ross Brawn
“With the last race of the season in Brazil also bringing Michael’s second and final retirement from Formula One, it will be an emotional weekend for everyone in the team. We have both greatly enjoyed and benefitted from working with Michael over the past three years, and I would like to pay tribute to his enduring commitment, passion and team spirit. The results that we all hoped for over that period have not come to fruition, however the progress that our team has made has been significant, and I am confident that we will see the rewards in seasons to come. Having worked with Michael for the majority of the 21 seasons of his career, I feel that he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Formula One driver of all time, and we wish him the very best with his future plans. Looking to the race weekend, our aim will be to continue our testing programme for next season, particularly with the evaluation of the 2013 tyre sets which Pirelli will be providing for the two practice sessions on Friday. After a difficult few races, we would like to end this season with a positive result, and we will work hard to achieve that, before our focus can finally turn fully to next year.”

Norbert Haug
“This weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix will bring a long, hard Formula One season to a close. It will also mark the final Formula One race of Michael Schumacher’s career and we must thank him both for his committed contribution to the building-up process of our team and also his performances on track. Michael isn’t just the most successful racing driver in the world but also the best known; his ability and character are admired around the globe. We had a competitive car in the first third of this season, as Nico and Michael demonstrated on several occasions. However, we especially needed to catch up in terms of aerodynamics, and to achieve our targets, we made changes in technology and personnel in order to be competitive from the start to the finish of next season. Our goal in Sao Paolo is to bid a respectable farewell to this year. When the 2013 season begins, we want once more to be in the position to score results like those we achieved half a year ago in China and Monaco.”

II. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team staff share their thoughts ahead of the 2012 Brazilian F1 Grand Prix

Brazil hasn’t had a world champion since Ayrton Senna won his third world title for McLaren in 1991, but the country’s passion for Formula 1 continues unabated. The Brazilian Grand Prix remains one of the highlights of the F1 season and the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Interlagos one of its gems.

The 2.6-mile track is one of the oldest circuits in F1, having hosted its first world championship grand prix in 1973. It’s been altered and made safer since that first race, but it retains much of its original character. It’s bumpy, undulating and narrow, and it’s one of five anti-clockwise circuits on the 2012 calendar.

The track is located 875 metres above sea level, making it the highest venue on the F1 calendar. The altitude affects the performance of the cars by reducing the power from the engines by about 7 percent. That places an even greater emphasis on handling and aerodynamic-efficiency, both of which are strengths of the MP4-27.

Neither Lewis nor Jenson has won the Brazilian Grand Prix, but both men clinched their world titles at Interlagos in 2008 and ’09 respectively. After Lewis’s emphatic victory in the United States last weekend, the team goes to the season finale hoping to end 2012 on a high.

Race distance - 71 laps (190.067 miles/305.909km)
Start time - 14:00 (local)/16:00 GMT
Circuit length - 2.677 miles/4.309km
2011 winner - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) 71 laps in 1hr32m17.464s (198.876km/h)
2011 pole - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) 1m38.481s (215.695km/h)
Lap record - Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams FW26) 1m11.473s (217.038km/h)

McLaren at the Brazilian Grand Prix

- Wins: 11 (1974, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993,1998, 1999, 2001, 2005)

- Poles: 10 (1974, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000)

- Fastest Laps: 8 (1973, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2010)

Car 3: Jenson Button
- Age: 32 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 227
- Wins: 14
- Poles: 8
- FLs: 8
- 2012 points: 163 (6th)
- Brazil record: 2011 Q3 R3; 2010 Q11 R5; 2009 Q14 R5; 2008 Q17 R13; 2007 Q16 R-; 2006 Q14 R3; 2005 Q4 R7; 2004 Q5 R-; 2003 Q11 R-; 2002 Q7 R4; 2001 Q20 R10; 2000 Q9 R6

“I’ve had some great experiences racing in Brazil – I won the world championship here in 2009, of course, but I can also remember having strong races here, especially in 2006 when I finished on the podium.

“I think we showed in Austin that we have an incredibly quick car, particularly in race-trim, and I’d love to have a clean weekend, a trouble-free qualifying and then have a good run at scoring some strong points on Sunday. Traditionally, it’s not been a circuit where we’ve been at our strongest, but I think this year’s car has often been strong at tracks where we wouldn’t normally have been up there, so I think we have a chance to go for the win.

“Of course, Brazil will be the backdrop for the championship showdown – and it’s a great track upon which to end the season on a high. I’m not putting my money on anybody, but I hope we have a fantastic contest and may the best man win.”

Car 4: Lewis Hamilton
- Age: 27 (January 7 1985)
- GPs: 109
- Wins: 21
- Poles: 25
- FLs: 11
- 2012 points: 190 (4th)
- Brazil record: 2011 Q4 R-; 2010 Q4 R4; 2009 Q17 R3; 2008 Q4 R5; 2007 Q2 R7

“Brazil has been the scene of some epic races for me during my time at Vodafone McLaren Merecedes and, for many reasons, this weekend will be a very big race for me.

“I nearly won the title here in 2007, clinched it on the final turn in ’08 and drove like crazy to finish on the podium in ’09. But I’ve never won: and that’s what I’ll be aiming to do this time around.

“As my final race behind the wheel of a McLaren, I vow to the whole team that I’ll give it my all on every single lap. My win in Austin last week was one of the races of my life, and I’d love to take victory in Brazil this weekend to give the team the perfect farewell present.

“Finally, a word on the championship: it’s a very finely poised battle, and neither Sebastian nor Fernando can afford to relax for a moment. They are both fantastic drivers, and both have driven superbly all season. Now, we’ll see who takes the final honours – I hope it’s an epic contest.”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“This weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix will bring the curtain down on another fascinating and exciting world championship. Additionally, it’ll be Lewis’s final race for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – the end of a long, and successful, chapter in the team’s history.

“I think our win in Austin last weekend has buoyed the team after a couple of disappointing races, and has shown that, in terms of raw speed, the MP4-27 wants for nothing. That’s an encouraging message to be sending home to our engineers and designers for the winter, and also a positive for our drivers, who know that they’ll likely be equipped with race-winning machinery for the Interlagos weekend.

“The Formula 1 world championship couldn’t ask for a more epic backdrop to the title decider than the sweeps and valleys of Interlagos. There’s little to choose between the performances of Sebastian and Fernando this season, and all I hope for is a fair and true contest on Sunday.”

McLaren has won more races in Brazil than any other Formula 1 constructor. Here’s how the team has defined 11 days in the history of the race.

1. January 27 1974, Interlagos
Emerson Fittipaldi starts from pole position, but he drops to third when Carlos Reutemann and Ronnie Peterson jump ahead at the start. Emmo grabs P2 on lap four when Reutemann makes a mistake and he takes the lead by out-foxing Peterson when they’re lapping Arturo Merzario. Emmo cruises to victory, winning his second start for McLaren by 13s.

2. March 25 1984, Jacarepagua
Alain Prost wins on his debut for McLaren, but it isn’t an easy victory. He qualifies fourth and is slow away from the grid. He battles through the order to lie second to team-mate Niki Lauda on lap 24 and when Lauda retires with an electrical problem he takes the lead. Derek Warwick passes him briefly during the pitstops, but Alain re-takes the lead when Warwick crashes out. Job done.

3. April 07 1985, Jacarepagua
A tenacious drive by Alain sees him win the season-opener from sixth on the grid. His chances are helped when Nigel Mansell crashes at Turn 1, but Prost is mighty all afternoon and fully deserves the win. He takes the lead on lap 19 and is never headed. He backs off towards the end of the race to win by 3s from Michele Alboreto.

4. April 12 1987, Jacarepagua
After qualifying fifth, Alain takes the lead when Ayrton Senna pits with handling issues. The Frenchman’s two-stop tyre strategy wins him the race because his main rivals are forced to make three stops in the blistering heat. New team-mate Stefan Johansson finishes third, giving McLaren a near perfect start to the 1987 season.

5. April 03 1988, Jacarepagua
Ayrton qualifies on pole for his McLaren debut, but he starts the race from the pitlane after his MP4/4 jams in first gear on the parade lap. That leaves Alain to romp to an easy victory, coming home 10s ahead of Gerhard Berger. Ayrton charges through the field, but he’s disqualified for using the spare car.

6. March 24 1991, Interlagos
Ayrton’s first victory in Brazil. He starts from pole position, but he has it far from easy. Nigel Mansell sits on his gearbox until he’s delayed by a puncture and Senna’s gearbox plays up towards the end of the race. He completes the last seven laps stuck in sixth gear! Gerhard Berger completes a good day for McLaren, coming home third in the second MP4/6.

7. March 28 1993, Interlagos
McLaren’s 100th victory and Ayrton’s second win at home. He qualifies third and runs third early on, until he can hold back the Williams-Renault of Damon Hill no more. Ayrton is later given a 10s stop-go penalty for passing under yellow flags, but he then takes full advantage of a rain shower to lead soon after half distance. A classic giant-killing performance.

8. March 29 1998, Interlagos
An utterly dominant display by McLaren-Mercedes drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. They qualify 1-2 and finish 1-2, David just 1s behind his team-mate in the second MP4-13. Michael Schumacher finishes third, exactly one minute adrift.

9. April 11 1999, Interlagos
An all-McLaren-Mercedes front row ends in a dominant victory for Mika. He’s never headed and comes home 5s ahead of Michael Schumacher. Mechanical problems for David in the sister MP4-14 end McLaren’s chances of scoring a 1-2.

10. April 01 2001, Interlagos
A superb victory for David. He starts fifth on the grid, but battles his way to the front with typical tenacity. When rain starts to fall in the middle of the race he times his pitstop for intermediate tyres to perfection and passes Michael Schumacher for the lead with 23 laps remaining. He comes home 16s clear of the German.

11. September 25 2005, Interlagos
A fine McLaren-Mercedes 1-2 finish, Juan Pablo Montoya coming home 2.5s clear of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. The battle between them is decided during the early laps, when Juan Pablo leads and Kimi gets stuck behind Fernando Alonso. By the time Kimi passes Fernando, Juan Pablo is seven seconds clear and he manages the gap for the remainder of the race.
~ Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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PREVIEW: Official teaser video showcases new light design for the 2013 E-Class Facelift

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The video posted below was released a few hours ago by Mercedes-Benz and we guess it is likely having a double purpose. It showcases the new eye-catching LED graphics for headlamps, but it also serves as teaser for the new-generation E-Class 2013. The first pictures and information of the revised 212 model series are to be made official on the 13th December this year, with the public reveal scheduled for early January next year at the NAIAS Detroit.

Video Credits: Mercedes-Benz TV

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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USA F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (VMM)

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Formula 1 returns to the United States next weekend for the first time since 2007. The race takes place on the purpose-built Circuit Of The Americas, just outside Austin, Texas, and simulations of the layout at the McLaren Technology Centre suggest it’s going to pose an interesting technical challenge to teams and drivers.

The circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, is one of five anti-clockwise tracks on the 2012 calendar. It has 20 turns (12 left-handers, 8 right) and an elevation change of 41 metres. The highest point on the lap is Turn One, which has a steep uphill approach mimicking the famous Turn One approach of the old Österreichring. The remainder of the lap is a mix of undulating sweeps, high-g corners and long straights. Downforce levels are expected to be similar to Silverstone’s, with a top speed of 315km/h.

The final layer of asphalt was laid at the end of September, so the surface is expected to be very green and slippery early in the race weekend. As rubber from Pirelli’s Medium and Hard compound tyres is left on the racing line, grip levels will improve. Our forecasts put an average laptime around the 1m38s bracket.

Lewis won the last grand prix on US soil, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway back in 2007, and both he and Jenson will be looking to return to the podium on Sunday.

Race distance - 56 laps (191.947 miles/308.896km)
Start time - 13:00 (local)/19:00 GMT
Circuit length - 3.427 miles/5.516km
2011 winner - N/A
2011 pole - N/A
Lap record - N/A

McLaren at the United States Grand Prix

- Wins: 11 (1976, 1977, 1982, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2007)

- Poles: 8 (1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2003, 2007)

- Fastest Laps: 10 (1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000)

Car 3: Jenson Button
- Age: 32 (January 19 1980)
- GPs: 226
- Wins: 14
- Poles: 8
- FLs: 8
- 2012 points: 153 (6th)
- US record: 2007 Q13 R12; 2006 Q7 R-; 2005 Q3 R-; 2004 Q4 R-; 2003 Q11 R-; 2002 Q14 R8; 2001 Q10 R9; 2000 Q6 R-

“Visiting a new circuit is always an interesting challenge. You approach it in a very different way from a track you’ve visited before – Thursday’s trackwalk and those first laps are all about exploration and understanding as you gather information from lots of different sources in a bid to build up a complete picture of the track and what’s required to get the best from it.

“On paper, the circuit looks to have a little bit of everything – the plan-view certainly looks familiar; you can see elements of the Maggotts/Becketts complex from Silverstone; there’s a reverse of Istanbul Park’s Turn Eight, too; and I can even see a bit of the Hockenheim infield, too.

“Whether those elements will blend together to make a satisfying whole remains to be seen, but there are a couple of long straights into tight corners, too, which should at least open up the possibility of overtaking.

“I think we’re in for a fantastic weekend – I really cannot wait to get out to Austin and see the city, the people and the track. I think it’s going to be brilliant.”

Car 4: Lewis Hamilton
- Age: 27 (January 7 1985)
- GPs: 108
- Wins: 20
- Poles: 25
- FLs: 11
- 2012 points: 165 (5th)
- US record: 2007 Q1 R1

“It’s crazy to think that the last United States Grand Prix was five years ago! It’s a race I still remember like yesterday, though – the nervy anticipation as I drove into the Speedway for the very first time, the thousands of supportive fans, and the fantastic car I had beneath me that enable me to take my second grand prix victory in the space of a week. For me, those were incredible, thrilling times.

“I have to admit – I’m absolutely made-up that we’re going back to the States. It’s a fantastic country and a place where our sport truly deserves to be. I think the Circuit Of The Americas looks like it could also be the place that modern Formula 1 finally calls home. I’ve only driven it on the computer and in the sim, but I think it’s going to be a track that drivers enjoy, which produces some great, close racing, and which fans will quickly love.

“This is a new circuit, a new challenge and a new opportunity – I’m definitely looking to be the first grand prix winner at the Circuit Of The Americas.”

Martin Whitmarsh
Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“I’ve always maintained that Formula 1’s presence in the United States is crucial, so I’m personally pleased and satisfied that we’re finally returning to America after spending far too long away from its shores.

“On a wider level, the arrival of a state-of-the-art, purpose-build grand prix track is perfect for Formula 1, and this is a golden opportunity for the sport to finally put down roots and find a long-term home. From a business perspective, too, we are in the right place at the right time. This is an invaluable commercial opportunity for the sport, for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and our partners.

“With Lewis, we won the last grand prix to be held in the United States back in 2007. After a strong, but ultimately disappointing, performance in Abu Dhabi last week, I know that both Lewis and Jenson head to Austin, determined to pick up the baton and return us to the top step of the podium.

“This should be a great race for Formula 1.”

The Circuit Of The Americas is new to Formula 1 in 2012, but the United States Grand Prix is almost as old as the world championship itself. Here’s how McLaren has defined 12 days in the history of the race:

December 12 1959 (Sebring)
A victory for McLaren, but not for McLaren! Our founder Bruce McLaren takes his first GP win in the 1959 season-finale, driving a Cooper-Climax. The 22-year-old passes world champion Jack Brabham in sight of the finish line to become F1’s youngest winner – a record that would stand for 43 years.

October 10 1976 (Watkins Glen)
James Hunt starts on pole for McLaren, but is beaten away from the line by Jody Scheckter. The pair quickly build up a convincing lead, lapping at record pace, until James wrestles the lead from the South African on lap 46 of 59. He controls the race thereafter and comes home 8s ahead of Scheckter. Jochen Mass is fourth in the second M23.

October 2 1977 (Watkins Glen)
James wins the US GP East for the second consecutive year, starting from pole and winning by 2s from Mario Andretti. James gets too much wheelspin away from the line, resulting in Hans Stuck beating him into Turn One. When the German spins out on lap 15, James is left with an untroubled run to the flag.

April 4 1982 (Long Beach)
Niki Lauda wins the third race of his comeback with McLaren. He starts second and spends the early laps behind pole-sitter Andrea de Cesaris, before passing the Italian for the lead on lap 15. He dominates the remainder of the race, finishing 14s ahead of Keke Rosberg’s Williams.

June 6 1982 (Detroit)
Niki and John Watson qualify 10th and 17th respectively, but the MP4-1 is the car to beat in race trim. Watson is up to 13th on lap seven and he passes Keke Rosberg for the lead on lap 37. Lauda tries to make it a McLaren one-two, but he crashes while trying to pass Rosberg for second.

March 27 1983 (Long Beach)
Tyre warm-up issues hinder both McLarens in qualifying and they qualify 22nd and 23rd. Warmer weather on race day improves grip levels and the pair charge through the field together, Niki ahead of John. On lap 33, John passes his team-mate and the Ulsterman takes the lead on lap 45. They finish one-two, more than 45s ahead of third-placed Rene Arnoux.

June 19 1988 (Detroit)
Ayrton Senna takes his sixth consecutive pole position, ahead of team-mate Alain Prost, and is never headed in the race. Alain has to work hard to make it a fourth one-two for McLaren in six races; he drops behind Thierry Boutsen at the start and has to force his way past the Belgian on lap six. He finishes 40s behind Senna.

June 4 1989 (Phoenix)
Ayrton takes pole for the first GP in Phoenix, ahead of Alain. In roasting hot conditions, the Brazilian takes the lead at the start of the race, before retiring with electronics trouble. That leaves Alain to cruise to victory ahead of Riccardo Patrese and Eddie Cheever.

March 11 1990 (Phoenix)
Gerhard Berger takes pole in his first race for McLaren, while Ayrton starts fifth. Gerhard suffers clutch problems in the race and it’s up to Ayrton to take the fight to race leader Jean Alesi. He’s on the Tyrrell driver’s gearbox by lap 33, but Alesi puts in a spirited defence. On lap 35 of 72, Ayrton takes the lead and comes home 8s ahead of the precocious Frenchman.

March 10 1991 (Phoenix)
Ayrton kicks off his ’91 campaign with an emphatic victory. Using a Honda V12 engine for the first time, he takes a dominant pole position and is never challenged in the race. He comes home 16s ahead of Prost’s Ferrari.

September 30 2001 (Indianapolis)
The last victory of Mika Hakkinen’s illustrious career. He starts fourth and his progress towards the front is helped when both Williams’ retire with mechanical problems. He drives a strong middle stint to come home 11s ahead of Michael Schumacher. David Coulthard finishes third in the other MP4-16.

June 17 2007 (Indianapolis)
Lewis Hamilton’s second victory in as many weekends, after he dominated the Canadian GP the previous weekend to take his first win in F1. The race is a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes benefit: Lewis and Fernando Alonso lock out the front row, Lewis taking pole by 0.1s. The race is nip and tuck between them and they’re separated by just 1.5s at the flag.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes ~

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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PREVIEW: The future 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe (C 217) artistically rendered

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Mercedes-Benz has recently started the road testing phase of the forthcoming S-Class Cabriolet and along with it, as sources claim, the future S-Class Coupe. As overall proportions indicate, both 2-door S-Class models will sport a generous wheelbase and a very athletic silhouette. The philosophy, while remaining classic, will combine traditional styling elements well known for a true Mercedes-Benz model with a more progressive approach in certain areas such as the front end and the tail section.

The facial appearance, as suggested by the computer-generated image posted above (opera of Romanian designer Andrei Avarvarii), will be rather impressive. The large Star grille with a single chrome louvre and Diamond trim (for the high end AMG Sport versions), while not being pointed any more, will still dominate the whole architecture with its sharp details. The shape of the intelligent LED headlamps will be inspired from the latest showcars like the F 800 Style and F 125!, while the beautifully sculpted air intakes will further add to the cohesive design of the front fascia.

The sides of the C 217 will be a harmony of elegant lines, all so familiar for those accustomed with the Mercedes-Benz coupe vehicles. Despite the current trend, the future S-Class Coupe will not display a busy profile design; while still retaining a superior, dropping lines that extends towards the rear shoulder of the body, the finished result would be better characterized as clean and effective. The arched greenhouse, a motif seen on every 2-door version from the Stuttgart-based carmaker, will further enhance sheer luxury of the car.

The CGI does not present the rear end of the S-Class Coupe, but we can speculate that it will be identical to the one on the A 217 S-Class Cabriolet sibling. The muscular boot lid, visible in the first spy photos, will make the most of the back side, while the LED tail lights will be moved towards the extremities. A discrete wing, acting towards improving aerodynamic drag on the rear wheels, willbe evenly integrated into the whole design.

Image Source: Autobild

Copyright © 2012, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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USA F1 Grand Prix 2012: Preview (MBAMGF1)

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Formula One returns to the United States of America next week with the penultimate round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship to be held at the purpose-built Circuit of the Americas on Sunday 18 November.

• Austin is the 10th venue for a F1 race in the USA (after Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Phoenix, Riverside, Sebring and Watkins Glen)
• Simulations suggest the circuit has more corners over 250 kph than Spa and more below 100 kph than Hungary
• A qualifying lap time of around 97 seconds (1:37) and a race lap time around 102 seconds (1:42) are predicted

Michael Schumacher
“My wife and I have been big fans of the USA, and also of Texas, for many years so I´m particularly looking forward to the race in Austin. I´m really excited to see what kind of track we will find and to see if the American fans will embrace our sport. From the pictures and layouts of the circuit that I have already seen, everything looks very good. I think Formula One will put on a good show at the Circuit of the Americas, and naturally I will be giving my best to be a part of that.”

Nico Rosberg
“It will be very exciting to race in the USA again and I’m really looking forward to our visit. The United States Grand Prix should be a great event and a real show for our American fans. I can’t wait to drive on the Circuit of the Americas track for the first time in practice next Friday. I spent some time practising on the simulator at the factory this week so I know what to expect and, as a team, we are as well prepared as we can be from our simulator work. The track looks cool with a great double S section to begin the lap and it looks like there should be some good opportunities for overtaking. We really want to end the season on a positive note so we’ll be aiming to score some points next weekend.”

Ross Brawn
“We are very pleased to see Formula One returning to the United States for the first time since 2007, and the team are looking forward to visiting Austin and the Circuit of the Americas next week. Visiting a new circuit for the first time is always a significant engineering challenge, and we have been working hard at the factory to prepare for the weekend. The team have done over five race distances on the simulator to assess the layout, gradients and G forces. The track layout looks quite varied with a high-speed twisting section in the first sector, elevation changes with an uphill approach to the crest of turn one, and a slower, more technical section at the end of the lap. Nico was in the sim yesterday to complete our preparations and his feedback, along with that of our other sim drivers, will be used to prepare for the Friday practice sessions next week.”

Norbert Haug
“It is five years since we last visited the United States and there is a great sense of anticipation in Formula One to be returning to a custom-built, state of the art venue at the Circuit of the Americas. A new circuit offers a new challenge for the teams. The circuit will provide a real test for the cars and drivers: it’s not a bland venue but rather a demanding layout with significant elevation changes. It contains an extremely demanding first sector, with a challenging series of high-speed corners and, throughout the lap, you can feel echoes of other great tracks around the world. Our sport has always enjoyed a very dedicated audience in the USA; their knowledge is impressive and they have always given Formula One a very warm welcome. It is an important step to return to the United States for our sport and its image. The USA is the biggest market for Mercedes-Benz cars in terms of sales and a race in the USA belongs in a world championship. The circuit looks to have exactly the right ingredients for an exciting weekend and we look forward to delivering a great race for the American fans.”

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

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