After reading Andrew Benson's blog about the achievements of past Mercedes F1 teams under the great Juan Manual Fangio somehow projects optimism of its future. In 1954 and 55 Mercedes produced a level of domination that makes Red Bulls performances in recent years pale into insignificance. The Bulls, the McLarens, and the Ferrari’s of the 2011 made the season interesting enough, but Mercedes demonstrated the greatest need to improve performance. They seemed to be in no-man’s land behind the top three and at the same time way ahead of the rest.

The German company will enter 2012 seeking a huge step forward. Mercedes’ vice president of competition Norbert Haug states 2011 was “not good enough” for one of the world’s greatest car companies.

Mercedes’ latest venture into F1 has only been running for two years, although they have spent 17 years as an engine supplier first to Sauber and then to McLaren. The new venture to set up their own team was based as much on the realities of the road car marketplace as any comparative lack of success on the track. The poor results McLaren produced in 2009, starting the season with their poorest car for 15 years, were an influence. So too, was the relative lack of recognition for Mercedes brand in any McLaren on the track.

In 2009, buying the team that just won the world championship, run by Ross Brawn, the man who masterminded many of Schumacher’s world titles seemed as about as much of a guarantee as possible. Bringing Michael out of retirement was supposed to be the icing on the cake.

As we know, the last two seasons haven’t produced what was expected.

So why have Mercedes not been able to compete at the top? The simple answer according to Benson, is the 2009 world title rather disguised the reality.

One, the car was developed with Honda money. Brawn managed to forge ahead but experienced a 40% staff reduction and was functioning on bare essentials. 

Two, the cars speed owed much to its controversial “double diffuser”- and by mid-season a lack of development due to funds saw other teams beginning to overtake them.

Big car manufacturers get worried if they fail to win as seen with the exodus of BMW, Honda, and Toyota, but there is no sign of such a move will be made by Mercedes. Sure, the pressure to perform was plain to see in 2011. Major recruitment has taken place with the hiring of Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis. Those two along with Bob Bell and Ross Brawn gives Mercedes AMG four giants in F1 working to improve the Silver Arrows chances in 2012. Brawn is adamant they have defined roles and will succeed. Others remain to be convinced about the wisdom of having so many big beasts in one pride.

Mercedes was the only top team to delay its debut until the second pre-season test to run their new car. The idea was to give more time to find more performance. But the move carries the risk of not having the time to work out problems that may occur before the season starts.

The top three will watch Mercedes AMG with interest, but you can be sure there will be some nervous beings at team Mercedes and in Stuttgart as well.

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