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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:26:10:42:15 by Timba7.

@Autosport:

Toto Wolff warns Mercedes against all-out 2013 F1 title bid
By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer Monday, August 12th 2013, 08:45 GMT

Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff has warned his Formula 1 team not to jeopardise its longer-term chances with an all-out bid for the 2013 championship.

Lewis Hamilton's Hungarian Grand Prix win - Mercedes' third triumph of the season - brought him up to fourth in the drivers' standings, 48 points behind leader Sebastian Vettel.

Mercedes is now second in the constructors', 69 points behind Red Bull.

The team has proved the quickest over a single lap this year, taking seven poles in 10 rounds, and after earlier tyre difficulties, its wins in Britain and Hungary suggested it could now reliably convert that raw speed into race pace.

But Wolff wants Mercedes to focus on making sure it can produce such form consistently rather than getting too fixated on closing the points gap.

"If half a year ago we would have talked about championship opportunities in the drivers' or constructors' championship it would have been absolutely crazy," he said.

"If you look at our competitors they have been able to perform at the top in a sustainable way.

"That is what we need to achieve - consolidation should be the agenda for the second half of the year, not looking at the championships."

Wolff was also cautious about the Hungarian result, saying it was too soon to regard the win in hot conditions as a turning point in Mercedes' tyre issues.

"We cannot be confident, it would be the wrong approach to say we have found the golden key now," he said.

"It is about consolidating and analysing, trying to translate it into the coming circuits in terms of the circuit itself, track surface, track temperatures, energy of the corners. Every track is different.

"We have to keep our head down and consolidate the win, and try to turn it into performance on the track."

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Good to keep the feet firmly on the ground. But to me as a fan.... GO FOR IT MERC!!!!! LETS GET THE RB AND VETTEL!!!!!

If spa and monza are good in terms of tyre management, I'd say: let's clip those rbr wings and fingerboy's finger


"Leave it to Lewis Hamilton to ruin Red Bull's day" - Martin Brundle

In memoriam: Sessions

Not a particularly strong friday but that's the merc trend a bit this year it seems.


The team however remains pretty confident, no?


[grandprix247.com]

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"It has not been a particularly tough day, just not a good day," Hamilton said, after ending up only 12th and 15th in the two practice sessions.

"I'm struggling - the car doesn't feel as good as it did in the last race - but I'm still hopeful.

"I don't think the car is bad, I just think we need to refine the set-up. The Red Bulls are obviously very quick, but I don't think they're unbeatable.

"I don't feel we started on the right foot. We have some things to change this evening, but we still have time."

Asked if he believed he could fight for pole, Hamilton added: "At the moment I don't, the car is really not on the pace, but hopefully this evening we'll change it.

"At the moment we're a long way off, but we'll find it tonight."


"Leave it to Lewis Hamilton to ruin Red Bull's day" - Martin Brundle

In memoriam: Sessions

Was worried about Q, after fP3 and first Q parts...
Merc not really on it, it seems. Lewis (and Nico too) drove brilliantly but were helped by the weather. If it's dry I don't think we'll win. In the changing conditions we have a chance. In full wett, only Nico it seems.

I hope that I'm wrong and that Lewis can win in all three circumstances but I doubt it. For some reason, the merc is less competitive, I'm eager to see how the race stints pan out 'cause they said the race pace was pretty respectable. Let's wait and see.

But anyway, congrats to merc for another pole! 8th in a row, if I'm not mistaken ?

Your thoughts?..


"Leave it to Lewis Hamilton to ruin Red Bull's day" - Martin Brundle

In memoriam: Sessions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:24:14:52:24 by De_JOKKE.

[grandprix247.com]


"Leave it to Lewis Hamilton to ruin Red Bull's day" - Martin Brundle

In memoriam: Sessions

SWEET HAMMI!!! Come on we need to beat the bulls!!! Bring it on!!

Jup, just as I expected: dry race: fallback.

Hami did well considering the merc pace, idem for nico. Damage limitation and we increased our points to ferrari and lotus.

But I'm afraid it's the end of the line here guys, we needed to win (or atleast finish in front of german kid) in both spa and monza but we didn't. So if no DNF for Vettel, then it's game over.

ps: glad to read the following:

This isn't the first time Mercedes have seen the balance of their car improve as the fuel load came down, but Brawn was keen to point out that tyre wear was not the cause.

"We didn't have any tyre issues today which was good," he added.



"Leave it to Lewis Hamilton to ruin Red Bull's day" - Martin Brundle

In memoriam: Sessions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:25:16:47:20 by De_JOKKE.

Bulls r 2 Strong.

We were rubbish!

3rd and 4th rubbish. Well not in my books.

We are pretty strong, but not the best team yet. Getting there.

This year has been huge step forward.

Indeed Timba, this year was a building year, don't forget!


"Leave it to Lewis Hamilton to ruin Red Bull's day" - Martin Brundle

In memoriam: Sessions

RB is now only team better than Merc. So interesting to see if we can leapfrog them. I think Vettel or Newey has to change team to achieve that. Or we have to create a monster for 2014 with engine change

Or luck for 2013.