MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: 2011 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Results

Mercedes GP Petronas driver Nico Rosberg finished the Brazilian Grand Prix in 7th place while Michael Schumacher finished in 15th

Mercedes GP Petronas driver Nico Rosberg finished the Brazilian Grand Prix in seventh place while teamate Michael Schumacher finished the race in 15th place after an early brush on the approach to the Senna S, with Bruno Senna. The Brazilian Grand Prix was a 71-lap race in Interlagos and was the final round of the 2011 Formula One season.

  • Nico ran a two-stop strategy of option/option/prime, stopping on laps 16 and 42
  • Michael was forced to run a three-stop strategy after a puncture on lap 10, pitting further on laps 32 and 51
  • Three of the team’s four clean pit stops were under 21 seconds this afternoon
  • With a total of 731 points, Mercedes-Benz is the highest scoring engine manufacturer of the 2011 season
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P7 1:17.207
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P15 1:16.681
Weather Warm & sunny
Temperatures Air: 24-26°C Track: 38-47°C

Nico Rosberg

“Today wasn’t an ideal ending to the season, and although I scored some points, I expected to finish higher than P7. I didn’t get a good start, and I had problems with my tyres overheating as the track temperatures were very high. So I had to manage my tyres very carefully during the whole race which impacted on the pace. Now I’m looking ahead and I hope we can do better in 2012. I look forward to an exciting time in the winter as we work hard to develop a better car for next year.”

Michael Schumacher

“It was a bit of a shame today with the incident with Bruno, which was caused perhaps due to some lack of experience, but then those things happen. Otherwise I think we could have had a nice race with some solid points. After the collision, all I could do was try to fight as much as possible, and hope for rain which did not come. In the first stint after the incident, my car was not well-balanced with a lot of oversteer. Unfortunately we could not change this at the pit stop which handicapped the balance in the second stint, whereas in the last stint the balance was good. We very much look forward to next season now. With all the effort that is being put into the development of the car, I am confident we can make another step forward to where Mercedes belongs; fighting at the top.”

Ross Brawn

“Nico didn’t have a great car balance today, struggling with oversteer, and he had to look after the tyres very carefully. He experienced high levels of degradation and consequently had a frustrating afternoon trying to manage the balance, in a situation where the tyres were particularly sensitive. Michael had a good battle with Senna in the early laps, and his pass at the start of lap 10 was clear-cut. However, Senna showed his inexperience trying to defend a position that he had already lost, and the contact ruined Michael’s race. After an unplanned stop to replace his punctured tyre, Michael was able to demonstrate the car’s innate pace, thanks to a better car balance, and his lap times looked reasonably competitive. I want to say thank you to all the team in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart, whose efforts have not waned at any point during a long season. There are accomplishments we can be proud of this season, such as our consistently strong pit stops, and we know that we need to put everything together next year. Finally, I would like to highlight the excellent support we have enjoyed from all our partners in 2011. Formula One is a true team sport, and they have played an integral role in helping us build towards a more successful future.”

Norbert Haug

“It was certainly not a perfect end to our season and not the results we had wanted to achieve at this final race in Brazil. We need to investigate why Nico’s speed over the major part of the race, suffering from a less than optimal car balance, was quite different to Michael’s, who had an unfortunate coming-together during his second passing move of the race. This cost him dearly as he had to do a whole lap with a punctured left-rear tyre, but his pace afterwards did not look bad at all. I would like to take the opportunity at this season’s final race to say thank you to all our team members in Brackley, Brixworth, Stuttgart and Fellbach for their dedicated work and relentless efforts. Also, I would like to thank all the partners and families of our team members – without their fantastic support, our colleagues could not get their demanding jobs done. There will be a short and well-deserved break for most of our team around Christmas before attacking next year with a better technical package, and the clear target of closing the gap to the top of the field.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Results

Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finished the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in sixth and seventh places respectively

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher began today’s race in seventh and eight position and by the end of today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the drivers made up one place on their grid positions to finish in sixth and seventh places.  The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a 55-lap race held at the Yas Marina Circuit, was won by McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, followed by Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and distantly by McLaren’s Jenson Button.

  • After an entertaining battle between the pair on the first lap, Nico emerged ahead in P6 by the start of lap two
  • Nico and Michael both followed a two-stop option/option/prime tyre strategy today
  • Nico stopped on laps 17 and 48, with Michael coming into the pits on laps 16 and 42
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P6 1:43.993
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P7 1:44.916
Weather Hot
Temperatures Air: 25-26°C Track: 28-31°C

Nico Rosberg

“It was an interesting race for me today. The start didn’t work out very well as I tried to overtake Felipe but suddenly there was no space left. Michael was able to overtake me, and we had a fun battle before I took the place back. From then, I was able to handle my tyre situation very well. I stayed out a bit longer before the second stop as there was some grip left, and it was better to stay out with the softer tyres. With the prime tyres, I had some understeer which made it impossible to overtake Felipe towards the end. Thanks to my engineering team who did a brilliant job here and I was quite happy with my car all weekend. Our pit stop guys were also great again, and that’s why we achieved a good result today. It makes me look forward to Brazil and hopefully we can achieve another good result there.”

Michael Schumacher

“A reasonable race today and some reasonable points I would say. Considering that we did not manage to find the perfect balance yesterday, we managed to get the maximum out of our situation today. But then, I did lose some small parts of the car which cost us some balance, and towards the end I had a slow puncture, which is why I had to park my car at turn two. The tyres gave up rather early in the first stint but that was due to our tyre strategy yesterday when we wanted to save a fresh set for the race. I therefore had quite used tyres for the start. We now have to look into the data and make sure we are well prepared for the last race of the season which we want to finish as well as possible.”

Ross Brawn

“A very lively first lap between our drivers today which was highly entertaining. We’ve often said that they are free to race as long as they keep it sensible, and it was good to see today. Nico had the stronger pace this evening, and his lap times during the race were quite encouraging. Our performance today reminds us of the little bit that we have to close down to become truly competitive, but it is within reach. Both Nico and Michael drove extremely well, and with good pit stops and a sound strategy, we achieved possibly the best results that we can at the moment.”

Norbert Haug

“Sixth and seventh places for Nico and Michael are the best possible results with our current technical package, and our team has now finished in the top six rankings for the fifth time in the last seven races. These positions are certainly not our ultimate target but during the building-up time of our team, it is nevertheless positive to get the best possible results. A big thank you to the organisers of the spectacular race here in Abu Dhabi which creates a great atmosphere and fantastic television images. In this ‘home’ race for our team, we have achieved the results that we are currently capable of, and we want to come back next year with a quicker car and a better performance for our partner and co-owner Aabar. Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton and McLaren Mercedes for their victory today, which is the 71st Grand Prix win for McLaren Mercedes since 1997. Compliments also to everybody at Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines for having six Mercedes-powered cars between P1 and P9 today.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers are headed to Yas Marina Circuit for round 18 of the 2011 Formula 1 Season

The second to last race of the 2011 Formula One World Championship takes place in Abu Dhabi and is the home race for Aabar, shareholder and partner of the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team. Round 18 will be hosted at the impressive 5.554 km (3.45 mile) Yas Marina Circuit and is the season’s only twilight event, with the race starting at 5:00 pm GST (8:00 am EST) on Sunday, November 13, 2011.

  • The Yas Marina Circuit features six corners below 100 kph – only Monaco, Singapore and Valencia have more.
  • The circuit also features four straights where the cars exceed 285 kph – the same number as in Monza.
  • With an estimated 3740 gear changes, the race features some 20 per cent more than the season average.

Michael Schumacher

“The season’s ending is coming up with some quite spectacular races; after the debut in India last weekend, we are now heading to the equally impressive Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi next week. The twilight race here certainly delivers a very unique atmosphere and challenge, and I truly enjoyed driving in those conditions last year when I was doing so for the first time. I hope that we can carry on our good team performance next weekend, at the home race for Aabar, and I look forward to scoring more points.”

Nico Rosberg

“The Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is another great Hermann Tilke-designed track which I like very much. It’s a fantastic setting with the track winding around the harbour and the hotel, and there is always a great atmosphere there with so many fans. I have good memories from last year’s race and racing later in the day makes an interesting change to the usual race weekend format. I felt very comfortable in my car over the Indian Grand Prix weekend, and I’m planning to build on the result there in Abu Dhabi. I hope that we can get closer to the fastest teams for the last couple of races this season, and we are pushing very hard to achieve that.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal

“As well as being the penultimate race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the final ‘home’ race of the year for the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team. Our shareholder and partner Aabar Investments is based in Abu Dhabi, so it will be a busy and exciting race weekend for us, with special events taking place at the race track and in the city. The Yas Marina Circuit is without doubt one of the most visually impressive Formula One facilities to have been built in recent years. The race has very quickly established itself as a wonderful, sell-out weekend, loved by drivers, teams, fans and guests alike. We are looking forward to our visit, and of course the added challenge of the later start and ‘twilight’ race. On the back of a two-car points finish, and a very good team performance, at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, we will be working towards a similar result in Abu Dhabi. It would be a very great pleasure to achieve this at Aabar’s home race.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“After a very successful premiere in India, Formula One’s third visit to Abu Dhabi will highlight another of our sport’s proudest success stories of recent years. The facilities and welcome at the Yas Marina Circuit are second-to-none and embody the commitment to excellence that defines the country’s relationship with our sport. The circuit features relatively few high-speed corners, so mechanical grip and traction are at a premium, while the powertrain is also highly stressed: the percentage of the lap spent at wide open throttle, as well as the total number of gearshifts in the race, are both well above the season average. Our target in Abu Dhabi is to build upon our recent form, which has seen at least one of our drivers finish among the top six in four of the last six races. This is the maximum we can currently achieve, given that the six cars of the three top teams are generally producing better lap times than our current technical package. Like Germany, Great Britain and Malaysia, Abu Dhabi is one of our ‘home’ Grands Prix, where we will recognise the exemplary support and commitment of our partner and shareholder Aabar and mark an important milestone in our racing year.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1 Indian Grand Prix Results

Schumacher and Rosberg finishing in fifth and sixth places respectively with the winner of the F1 race being Sebastian Vettel

Today’s Fomula 1 race marked the first ever Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit and it saw strong performances from MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.  The race ended with Schumacher and Rosberg finishing in fifth and sixth places respectively with the winner of the F1 race being Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel followed by McLaren’s Jenson Button, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Mark Webber.

  • Michael made up three places at the start, and followed a prime/prime/option strategy, stopping on laps 18 and 50
  • Nico also stopped twice on laps 17 and 45 with the same prime/prime/option tyre choice
  • Staying out five laps longer for his second stop enabled Michael to open enough of a gap to pass Nico for P5
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P5 1:28.549
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P6 1:28.600
Weather Warm & sunny
Temperatures Air: 30-31°C Track: 35-38°C

Michael Schumacher

“I am obviously happy about the race today. We achieved the maximum that we could hope for, and as a team we maximised our potential. Fifth and sixth places are a great result for us. On top of that, my car was very nicely sorted for the race and very stable. At the start, everything worked out according to my strategy as I deliberately didn’t want to use KERS in the first two corners and save it for the long straight where I knew that I could make up some positions. In the second stint, I managed to maintain my tyres so I could stay out longer and that was enough for fifth place. What’s really important at the moment is that we keep pushing and trying to improve, and that is what we achieved today. To the organisers of the first Indian Grand Prix, I would like to send a big compliment; I’m sure that I am not the only one to say that this was a very positive debut.”

Nico Rosberg

“We can be happy with a good team result and that’s what the boys in the garage deserved. I’m also pleased to have gained one place on my grid position. However my strategy was not perfect today and I lost some time in the second pit stop which meant that I wasn’t able stay ahead of Michael. I had good pace at the end of the race and pushed very hard but it was impossible to catch him over the last laps. I’m confident that we can repeat this good result in the last two races. All in all, it has been a good Indian Grand Prix debut for us and I hope all the fans enjoyed the race. I’m looking forward to coming back next year.”

Ross Brawn

“A very solid race from the drivers and team today, and we are very pleased to have achieved fifth and sixth places. Michael, Nico and the engineers did an excellent job to focus on getting the car right for the race, and making the best use of the tyres. We certainly got everything that we could out of our current car this weekend. It was an exciting race from our two drivers with Michael coming out on top this time, however you could see just how closely matched they are during the race. Nico’s second set of tyres faded a little bit more on him whilst Michael was able to stay out longer which was enough to take fifth place. It was a very good result for the team today and I’m extremely pleased with how we have worked this weekend.”

Norbert Haug

“A strong result today for our team considering the possibilities that our technical package currently has. It is satisfying for everybody to extract the maximum and to achieve the best possible result. Our lap times looked consistent throughout the race which shows that we handled the tyres well and found a set-up which suited the track. Of course, our drivers did a very good job today. To come home in fifth place after starting in 11th is certainly satisfying for Michael. His start, when he gained three places, and his second long and consistent stint were decisive for him to get in front of Nico. He also did a good job today with both our drivers doing similar lap times throughout the race which shows that they achieved what was possible. This inaugural Indian Grand Prix was a remarkable event. This is a fantastic and challenging race track, and saw packed grandstands and great enthusiasm from the fans. Formula One could not have wished for more during the first race in a new country. So a big thank you to the organisers, the Jaypee Group, and to Bernie Ecclestone and FOM, who have worked very hard to make this new event happen. We now are looking forward to the next Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, the home of our co-owners and partners Aabar, where we hopefully can achieve a similar result. Fifth and sixth places are not what we are ultimately striving for but it is satisfying to get the best possible results and we can build on that in order to make a good step next year.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Airtel Grand Prix of India Preview

Formula One drivers take to the Buddh International Circuit for the first time, after nearly a year of track preparations

The Formula One drivers will only turn a wheel for the first time at the Buddh International Circuit on Friday morning. But although those practice laps will mark the beginning of a new learning process, the teams and drivers are far from starting from zero when they actually take to the track. Preparations for the race have been underway for nearly a year – and by race day, around one million simulations of the race will already have been completed.

When did the team’s first preparations begin for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix?

The process of preparing for a new race begins with the logistical challenges rather than the technical ones. The team’s travel department conducted a recce of the local area in December 2010, and made hotel reservations shortly afterwards. The logistics crew generally make a visit around nine months ahead of the race, in order to plan the layout of the garage, access routes and storage areas. In terms of technical preparations, these begin with architects’ plans of the circuit. The elevation and camber provided on these are used to construct a basic track map for virtual simulation, around six weeks before the event. This map is gradually improved as more information becomes available from the FIA and the circuit. In recent years, circuits have only been completed very shortly before the first race weekend – and the same is true for the inaugural Indian GP – which means the team cannot make a digitised map of the track. Set-up simulations, which provide the baseline settings for the car at the start of the opening practice sessions, are carried out the week before the event.

What factors are taken into account when devising the baseline set-up?

Circuit characteristics can be distinguished from a basic two-dimensional map. Factors such as downforce levels, braking duty and g-force loadings are all a function of the circuit’s geometry, and basic simulations will provide a direction for those parameters. Initial simulation suggests that the cars will spend around 65% of the lap at full throttle, with the longest full throttle period of 14.5 seconds, between turns three and four. The cars will exceed 285 kph at three points around the lap, while the fastest corner is expected to be turn 12, which is expected to be taken at 255 kph. The maximum g-loading around the circuit is expected to be 4.0 G, at Turns 5, 9 and 11.

How is the driver-in-the-loop simulator used before the event?

The basic nature of the track map means that the simulator can only be used for basic familiarisation with the circuit, because the track map is not detailed enough to include information such as bumps and kerbs which influence set-up tuning. The team will generally complete around 100 laps (nearly two race distances) in the simulator, programmed with a variety of fuel loads and grip levels, to ensure as many possible scenarios as possible are covered. In addition to using the driver-in-the-loop simulator, the team conducts strategy simulations to analyse as many race outcomes as possible. By race day, we will have performed around one million iterations of the potential race, which are used to inform decisions about how to approach qualifying and the race itself.

What preparation do the drivers have to do for a new circuit?

Like with other circuits, they must be familiar with the KERS deployment schedule (when KERS is deployed to the greatest performance advantage around the circuit), the DRS zones and also the pit-entry and exit lines, for speed limiter activation and deactivation. In terms of learning the circuit, the drivers will conduct their usual track walk on Thursday to inspect it on foot, and potentially note specific signs and markings that they will need to be aware of when in the car. In terms of learning the circuit, this is an ongoing process through the weekend, as grip levels increase, and the team structures its practice programmes to give the drivers maximum time to familiarise themselves with the intricacies of the layout.

Which track does the new Buddh International Circuit most resemble?

The circuit has similarities to Turkey, with a long main straight and a very long, sweeping corner (Turns 10 and 11) that resembles the triple-apex Turn Eight in Turkey. However, while Turn Eight was taken with an average corner speed of 270 kph, in India the corners are expected to be taken at 170 kph (Turn 10) and 210 kph (Turn 11) respectively. The lap time and speed will be very much dependent on the grip level achieved by the Pirelli tyres on the new asphalt surface. A lap time of 1:25.000 would correspond to an average lap speed of 218 kph, while a lap time of 1:30.000 would equate to an average lap speed of 205 kph.

2011 Indian Grand Prix Preview Interview

Michael Schumacher

“For the next race, we are heading to India for the first time; a country which a lot of people tell me is fascinating. I’m looking forward to experiencing this new culture and seeing the track for the first time. I am sure we will be impressed with what has been done there. There has been a lot of interest in the build-up to the event, and therefore hopefully we will entertain a lot of new fans in India. I’ve always been happy to welcome new tracks on the calendar and enjoy the challenge of adapting to them. The outcome of the last race in Korea was unlucky for us, therefore I am extra-motivated to score some points next weekend, and reward the good work of the team.”

Nico Rosberg

“This will be my first visit to India, and it will be very exciting for me to discover the new culture. I am planning to spend a few days in the country and looking forward to doing some sightseeing, particularly making a visit to the Taj Mahal. I hope the first race in India will be a great show for all motorsport fans there, and a big success. I enjoy going to new tracks for the first time as I tend to learn them quickly, and it will be very interesting to set the car up as there will be so many unknown points. I hope to be able to fight in amongst the top six cars again, like during the last race in Korea, but this time hopefully I will be able to stay ahead of one of them until the end of the race.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal

“The Indian Grand Prix will be a new adventure for Formula One, and we are all looking forward to experiencing the country and the Buddh International Circuit for the first time next week. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the new venue and the preparations for this inaugural event, and the interest in India seems to be growing daily. In the second most populous country in the world, this can only be good for Formula One as we continue to expand our fan base by taking the sport to new markets. The circuit itself looks to be an interesting challenge and we have been preparing back at the factory with circuit maps, simulations and models. You can do a great deal of work beforehand but nothing replicates the feedback from the drivers on their first laps out on the new circuit on Friday. With just three races remaining, we will be aiming to finish the season on a high and pushing hard to score good points at each one.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is pleased and proud to be part of Formula One’s visit to India and its inaugural Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit. India is a country with a rich cultural heritage which is admired and respected across the world, and it is also a country of the future: there is a vibrant, growing economy and, for Mercedes-Benz, a rapidly accelerating market for our cars. The Buddh International Circuit promises to deliver the excellent facilities we are used to at the most modern Formula One venues. It presents a complete challenge to the cars with a range of faster and slower corners, as well as long straights that may make the compromise between downforce and straightline speed delicate to find. On the operational side, a new circuit levels the playing field somewhat between the teams and all of us must start from zero; however, it does provide an opportunity for our race team’s operational excellence to pay dividends. We saw some signs of promising potential in the early stages of the last race in Korea, although this did not ultimately translate into the final results. But we will be aiming to build on this potential in India, and our team will keep pushing at every race this year to extract the maximum from our current technical package.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1: Korean Grand Prix Results

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel while Nico Rosberg finished eighth and Michael Schumacher retired on lap 16

MERCEDES GP PETONAS driver Nico Rosberg finished the Korean Grand Prix in eighth place today with team-mate Michael Schumacher was forced to retire on lap 16.

  • Nico completed a two-stop strategy on laps 13 and 27, running used option/new prime/new prime tires
  • Michael started the race on new option tires and stopped once on lap 14, for new prime tires, before retiring
  • Nico completed 28 laps on his second set of prime tires – over half the race distance
  • All three of the team’s pit stops today were under 21 seconds, including two of the race’s four fastest stops

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel dominated Sunday’s Korean Grand Prix, after taking the lead away from Lewis Hamilton giving Vettel his 10th seasonal win. Vitaly Petrov took Michael Schumacher out in a collision on the 17th lap which brought out the safety car. After the race the Yeongam stewards gave Petrov a reprimand and a five-place grid penalty for the next round in India.

Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P8 1:41.770
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 DNF
Weather Cool & cloudy
Temperatures Air: 21°C Track: 23-26°C

Nico Rosberg

“I had good speed at the start of the race today but after we changed to the prime tires, it became more difficult as the degradation was too strong. I had some nice battles against Jenson and the Ferraris, and was pushing hard to defend my position against Felipe and Fernando in the middle stint. During this, I flat-spotted my front tires so I had to pit earlier than expected which made my last stint on the primes very long. I didn’t have enough grip by the end and so I just wasn’t able to defend the position against Jaime. A difficult race for me today but I’m still happy to score some points.”

Michael Schumacher

“Another unfortunate end to a race which could have been encouraging today. It’s a big pity as the car was again very good in race trim and I had already gained some positions. It would have been interesting to see what was possible, and I think we could certainly have taken some points. As for the incident, I didn’t see Vitaly coming; I was just suddenly spun into a direction I had not intended to go, and then I saw my rear wing hanging off. It was unfortunate but these things happen when you fight hard – that’s racing.”

Ross Brawn

“The early stages of the race looked encouraging and both drivers were making good progress on the option tires, with Nico fighting among the top three teams and jumping the Ferraris thanks to more strong pit work. We fitted prime tires to both cars at the first stop in order to ensure we could complete a two-stop race – something that would have been marginal if we had run options in the second stint. Nico was driving well but had a big flat spot on his left-front tyre on lap 27, which forced him to pit out of sequence for another set of primes. From that point on, he had to nurse the tires for over half the race distance to the flag. He did this extremely well, climbing back from P14 to P7, but was unable to hold off Alguersuari on the final lap, whose tires were ten laps fresher. As for Michael’s incident, he was driving well, making up positions and minding his own business when somebody simply forgot to brake at turn three. Although we didn’t score points to our full potential today, there were encouraging signs of our competitiveness for the remaining three races of the season, and we will aim to build on this in India – which will be a new adventure for us all.”

Norbert Haug

“Our race started well, with Nico lying fifth after the first round of stops and ahead of both Ferraris, and he had some thrilling battles with Jenson Button, the winner of the last race. The end of Nico’s race was less satisfying. He came in early after flat spotting his front left tyre, had to do a very long third stint and was overtaken on the very last lap courtesy of DRS. Michael drove strongly from 12th on the grid, fighting his way through the field and running ahead of Alonso’s Ferrari when he was taken out by a very optimistic competitor. Our team can take some positives from this weekend as the beginning of the race with heavy fuel loads on the softest tyre looked strong – something we struggled with earlier in the season. Our learning process is certainly guiding us in the right direction, which is one of the targets we set ourselves. Lewis Hamilton’s second place is the 100th podium finish in 105 races for our V8 engine, which has won 34 times in the last 86 races. Well done to all our colleagues at Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth for reaching this milestone.Now we are all looking forward to the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in a fortnight.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1: Japanese Grand Prix Results

Jenson Button won the Japanese Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel became world champion, Michael Shumacher in 8th

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver Michael Schumacher started Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan in eighth place and made up two places to finish in sixth place and score 8 points. Nico Rosberg worked his way up from 23rd on the grid to finish the race in tenth place scoring him 1 point.

Though Jenson Button was the winner of the Japanese Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel clinched enough points to become world champion for the second straight year. As a result, Vettel has earned the title of the youngest ever back-to-back winner. “To win the world championship here is fantastic, and there are so many things I want to say in this moment but it’s hard to remember all of them,” he said.

“I am so thankful to everyone in the team, both here at the track and at Milton Keynes, to be able to fight for the championship and find ourselves in a very strong position. It was great to achieve the goal we set ourselves already, with four races left.”

Vettel has 324 points to Button’s 210, Alonso has 202, Webber 194 and Hamilton’s in fifth with 178. Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher are in seventh and eight place with 63 and 60 points.

Red Bull Racing-Renault have 518 points while McLaren trailes with 388 points in the constructors’ standings, with both teams still in the running for that title. Mercedes is currently in fourth with 123 points.

  • Michael completed a three-stop strategy this afternoon, running option/option/option/prime
  • Nico also completed three stops from his P23 starting position, running prime/option/option/option
  • Of 65 total pit stops today, just nine were under 21 seconds – and five of those were by MERCEDES GP PETRONAS
  • In a race with only one retirement, Michael and Nico gained a total of 15 places from their grid positions
  • Today’s race was the fourth consecutive Grand Prix which has featured a Safety Car deployment
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P6 1:37.916
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P10 1:36.614
Weather Warm and sunny
Temperatures Air: 23-24°C Track: 25-35°C

Michael Schumacher

“I’m very happy with what we achieved in Suzuka today as we maximised our potential of the car, and managed to put in a good race. The team did a great job the whole weekend in finding performance and transforming it into the race. I think there was not more to expect and achieve. The pit stops were perfectly timed and everything worked out according to plan. I would like to congratulate Sebastian and his team who have been exceptional the whole year. It is extremely emotional to see him win the Championship again – I am very happy for him and even a little bit proud.”

Nico Rosberg

“I’m pleased to score a point today and had fun out there with a few nice overtaking manoeuvres. This is definitely one of the toughest tracks for overtaking so starting from the back of the grid meant that I had a pretty tough job. Before the race, I hoped to achieve between eighth and 10th places and, whilst it would have been nice to be a bit higher, it’s still a decent result. Thanks to the team for a good strategy and great pit stops today. After this complicated weekend, I hope to have a more normal weekend in Korea and fight in our usual position. And finally, Sebastian, congratulations: you deserve the title.”

Ross Brawn

“We made the absolute most of the car and opportunities we had at our disposal today. The car performed well throughout the race, our strategies were right for both cars, and the pit crew produced fantastic stops – we have performed strongly all year in the pits, and today our stops won us places, particularly for Nico during the Safety Car period when he jumped two cars. Michael and Nico both delivered great performances in the cockpit, passing cleanly when they needed to and defending strongly. Overall, I think it was a very exciting race and a fitting Grand Prix in which to crown a new World Champion. Congratulations to Sebastian and Red Bull Racing on his second World Championship – he has driven impeccably all year, and together they have set the standards we must now aim for and exceed.”

Norbert Haug

“Michael and Nico both delivered strong races this afternoon and quite competitive lap times. Michael raced and finished among the top three teams, leading laps during the pit stop cycles, and Nico drove strongly through the field into the points, as we believed he could after qualifying yesterday, even starting from P23. Compliments to our pit stop and strategy crew as well, who played a key role in our team result this afternoon. Congratulations to Jenson Button and McLaren-Mercedes on their victory over the World Champion but, most of all, we take our hats off to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing – not just for winning the title, but also for defending it with an exceptional level of performance throughout the season.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS F1 Japanese Grand Prix Preview

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg completed a total of 93 practice laps Friday, equivalent to over 335 miles

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg began the team’s weekend in Suzuka, Japan Friday with the first two practice sessions ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.  Sunday’s race in Japan will mark the 15th race of the 2011 Formula 1 season.

  • Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg completed a total of 93 practice laps Friday, equivalent to over 335 miles
  • In comparison to 2010, the fastest lap in P1 was 1.0995s slower, and in P2 0.436s slower

Leading the practice field in Suzuka was McLaren’s Jenson Button (1m 31.901s) followed by Fernando Alonso (1m 32.075s), Sebastian Vettel (1m 32.095s), Mark Webber (1m 32.147s), Felipe Massa (1m 32.448s), Michael Schumacher (1m 32.710s) and Nico Rosberg )1m 32.982s).

Michael Schumacher

“It was a pretty typical two practice sessions today. We were working on set-up issues as usual and achieved much of what we wanted, however we are aware that the character of our car and the character of this track are not a perfect match and there are areas still to work on. From what I have seen so far, I would guess we will find ourselves qualifying in the region we have been lately, but obviously we will make our best efforts to improve our position further.”

Nico Rosberg

“We had two challenging sessions today as we worked to get the balance of the car right on high and low fuel loads. However at the end of P2, I’m happy with what we learnt, and I think all is going in the right direction for tomorrow.”

Ross Brawn

“Suzuka is a very challenging track and we had a slightly tricky balance to start with this morning. By the end of the second session this afternoon, we had largely got on top of that, with the engineers and drivers doing a good job to find better solutions. It’s clear that tyres will be a major factor in the race on Sunday.”

Norbert Haug

“It was quite an encouraging start to the race weekend on this unique and challenging track. Our lap times during the race simulation on the option tyre look quite consistent, and we should have a decent base to work from this evening.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Singapore Grand Prix Results

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver's Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finished the Singapore Grand Prix in 7th and retired

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver Nico Rosberg finished the Singapore Grand Prix in seventh place, running a three-stop option/option/option/prime strategy. Team-mate Michael Schumacher retired from the race following a collision with Sauber’s Sergio Perez at turn eight on lap 28.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel took home an easy victory at the Singapore Grand Prix and would have clinched the World Championship title, had it not been for Jenson Button coming in second and thus keeping his championship hopes alive.

Nico Rosberg

“The optimum today would have been sixth place but it didn’t quite work out for us this weekend. I was struggling with the rear end in the race, and our car just really didn’t suit this demanding track. I had more problems with tire degradation than the cars around me, which combined with having to switch our strategy when the safety car came out, meant it was impossible to make any progress. Whilst we might not be happy with the outcome of our weekend here in Singapore, we will now work hard to improve the car for the next races here in Asia.”

Michael Schumacher

“It was a very unfortunate ending to my race in Singapore tonight and obviously I am a bit disappointed. What happened was what I would call a misunderstanding between Sergio Perez and myself. He was about to go inside and lifted, and I was not expecting him to do that so early, and therefore hit him. It’s probably one of those race incidents which look more impressive from outside than from inside, as I am totally ok and my impact in the end was not too heavy. It was a pity because my car and the tires worked well, and therefore the pace was very good. I will look ahead to the next races and hope to have better endings there.”

Ross Brawn

“It turned out to be a fairly tough race for us this evening. As expected, we didn’t have the pace to match the leaders but we were quite comfortable in the gap behind the top six cars. Unfortunately Michael’s accident hurt us both from his own point of view and that it brought out the safety car at the wrong time for our strategy. Nico then did a very good job to make the set of tires that he had last for over half of the race. Seventh place was about as much as we could have expected today, and whilst it feels disappointing, we will keep working hard and pushing forward.”

Norbert Haug

“The race developed quite well for us until Michael’s incident with Sergio Perez which brought out the safety car. We had no choice but to pit Nico and put him on the prime tires, on which he then did 31 laps, more than half the race distance. Nico did a very good job to keep the tires together for such a long stint. Michael’s speed before the accident looked good, considering our current technical package, so it is a shame for him as he could perhaps have finished in front of Nico. Without the safety car, and with an ideal strategy for Nico, he could have been in a position to finish one place higher. Thank you to the organisers here in Singapore for hosting this race, which is one of the most spectacular events in the calendar, and produces the best television images over the course of the season.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Italian Grand Prix Results

Michael Schumacher finished the Italian Grand Prix in 5th Place while Nico Rosberg was taken out on the 1st lap

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Driver Michael Schumacher finished the Italian Grand Prix in fifth place Sunday on the Autodromo di Monza. Starting from eight position, Schumacher had an exciting drive where he made up three places. Sadly, Nico Rosberg’s race came to an early end on lap one as he was hit by another car that had started from 24th position.

  • Michael ran a two-stop soft/soft/medium strategy, stopping on laps 16 and 37, to finish in fifth place
  • Nico’s race ended at the first chicane when he was taken out through no fault of his own in an accident caused by Liuzzi
  • Michael gained four positions on the first lap, taking his season total of places gained on the first lap to 35
  • Michael & Nico will attend the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday to premiere the 2012 DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupe

Michael Schumacher

“It was an exciting race today, both for me and I think for all of our fans, and that is why I am happy. The fighting against Lewis was big fun, and my mirrors seemed to be very small at times. We are both known for driving on the limit, and that is what we did. I had to make my car as wide as a truck, and had to stretch the possible as much as I could, but in the end, as expected, he was still faster. The start was ideal, I held back on purpose at first in order to use the grip perfectly afterwards, and then the left side was all free. To make the most of your possibilities is the maximum possible at times, and that is why I had fun today, especially knowing that there is more to come in the future, with all the support we have from Mercedes.”

Nico Rosberg

“It was a disappointing race for me today in Monza. I had a difficult start on my prime tyres but still managed to gain a place at the first corner, so it was quite good. Then Liuzzi flew like a torpedo over the grass and put me out of the race. It’s a pity because I had a strong strategy and, as Michael’s good result showed, our car was very strong this afternoon.”

Ross Brawn

“A fantastic drive from Michael today, and I’m sure he really enjoyed his racing out there. The boys have done a great job with our starts this year, and Michael was able to get away well and show his race craft in the first part of the race. Then he settled into a really tough battle with the McLarens, particularly Lewis, which was great racing and vintage Michael. We haven’t quite got a car that’s quick enough yet but we are all pleased with Michael’s fifth place today. For Nico, it was a short and not at all sweet afternoon. We had an exciting strategy starting him on the prime tyres, and looking at how those tyres performed on other cars at the beginning of the race, it would have been very interesting to see how it developed. It’s doubly frustrating that he was taken out by a car starting in 24th position. If you get tangled up at the first corner because you are vying for position, that’s racing, but to be swiped out by someone that far back is hard to take. However, we have shown as a team that when we do have the right car, we will be able to compete at the front, and that’s our inspiration for next year.”

Norbert Haug

“A thrilling drive from Michael again today – the first half of the race delivered probably one of the best television shows of the year and I am sure lots of people at home were standing rather than sitting in front of their televisions, which was the case for us on several occasions today. Michael repeated his Spa result today and everybody realised during his drive how committed and hard-fighting he is – it was a joy to watch, and certainly not just for us. It was a shame for Nico to be in the middle of a first-lap shunt at Turn One. With two fresh sets of option tyres available – which none of the top drivers had today – I am sure he would have been in a good position to fight for a strong result. We all are now looking forward to the Singapore night race where we want to consolidate our recent performances from Spa and Monza.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 2011 Italian Grand Prix Qualifying

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver's Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg qualified in 8th and 9th places at the Autodromo di Monza

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver’s Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg qualified in eighth and ninth places today at the Autodromo di Monza for the Italian Grand Prix that will take place Sunday, September 11.  The Autodromo di Monza is a 3.6 mile, 53 lap circuit, bringing the total race distance to 190.58 miles.  The lap record at the Autodromo di Monza is 1:21.046 and was achieved by  Rubens Gonçalves “Rubinho” Barrichello in 2004.

  • The team ran a tactical qualifying session this afternoon in Monza with a focus on saving new tyre sets
  • Michael qualified P8 after completing a single quick lap on soft tyres in Q3, and has one new set of options for the race
  • Nico qualified P9 on hard tyres in Q3, and will have two new sets of option tyres tomorrow
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Practice 3 Qualifying 1 Qualifying 2 Qualifying 3
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P7 P15 1:25.108 P7 1:23.671 P8 1:23.777
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P6 P8 1:24.550 P4 1:23.335 P9 1:24.477
Weather Hot & sunny
Temperatures Air: 29-30°C Track: 42-46°C

Michael Schumacher

“Qualifying today went mostly according to plan. I don’t think we could have taken much more; maybe I could have ended up one place higher. I didn’t have an ideal fast lap as I tried to use the slip stream from Lewis but then he locked up in the second chicane which made me lock up too. However I will be on soft tyres tomorrow which should be better for my race. As our race pace looked quite good yesterday, I was more focusing on the race and trying to use the tyres in the right way. For tomorrow, I will try to get a good start and take it from there.”

Nico Rosberg

“I’m happy with today’s qualifying and the compromise that we made to be strong in the race tomorrow. The performance in Q2 shows that the car is working well here, and we saved two sets of options which is good. I’m the only driver who took part in Q3 who will be starting on the hard tyre, so it will be interesting and should help me a lot at the start of the race. I think it will be a really good race tomorrow.”

Ross Brawn

“Tyre management will be crucial in the race, and we were very mindful with both cars that we must start the race on the same tyres as we qualified on. For Nico, we opted for a prudent approach by running the hard tyre which could open up a nice opportunity for him tomorrow and it will be very interesting to see how he progresses. Michael decided to use the soft tyre in Q3, but only completed a single lap to preserve them for the race. Both drivers have fresh sets for the race – two sets of softs for Nico, and one for Michael – so we will see how this afternoon’s tactical decisions play out. I think we can look forward to plenty of action.”

Norbert Haug

“Our target since Friday has been to get our preparations right for the race. We knew this could cost us one or two positions on the grid, but we hope that our strategy will pay off in the race tomorrow. Both Nico and Michael will have a number of fresh tyres for the race which should help us too. But of course we are realistic in our targets and a result similar to Spa a fortnight ago is what we can achieve in a best-case scenario.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Italian Grand Prix Preview

The 2011 Italian Grand Prix will take place on September 11 at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, just outside of Milan

The Italian Grand Prix marks the final European race of the 2011 F1 season. Round 13 will take place on Sunday,  September 11 at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, located just outside of Milan. One of the most atmospheric circuits on the calendar, the 5.793 km (3.6 mile) circuit in the royal park at the heart of Monza features four long straights where top speeds can reach 340 kph (211 mph).

  • Monza is the fastest circuit of the year with an average lap speed of 255 kph (158 mph); the season average is 211 kph (131 mph).
  • The Formula One Italian GP has been won from pole 18 times in 61 races, including seven times in the past ten years.
  • DRS can be used for 74% of the lap (or 4.29 km) in practice and qualifying – the highest percentage of the season.

Michael Schumacher

“The final European race takes place at Monza, a truly historic Formula One circuit, and one where I have always been so warmly welcomed and supported over the years. We achieved a good team result in Spa last weekend, and I especially enjoyed the overtaking battles and the challenge of making up so many places during the race. This gives us a boost going into the final part of the season, and we will continue pushing hard to get the best possible results.”

Nico Rosberg

“I’m really looking forward to the weekend in Monza. We learned at the last race in Spa that our car can be competitive at high-speed tracks, and we definitely took a step forward there. I am confident that we can do that again in Italy next weekend. I visited the factory this week and I’m quite happy with how things are working out there. I’ll be arriving in Italy on Wednesday and attending the FOTA Fans Forum at Pirelli’s headquarters in Milan. It should be a really interesting event and I’m looking forward to the chance to speak with some of our fans there.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal

“Monza is always a fitting venue for the final European race, and spending a race weekend there is a special experience. The unique high-speed circuit is a classic racing venue, and one of the best places to watch Formula One cars at their very top speeds. Coming off the back of our best result of the season in Spa, we are looking forward to the weekend and to finishing the European season on a high. With the emphasis jointly on engine power and aerodynamic efficiency, we have the benefit of our Mercedes-Benz engine and, as always for Monza, we will run a special low-downforce aerodynamic package to minimise drag on the long straights.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“Monza features the highest straightline speeds of the year at around 350 kph, the highest average lap speed and, at 83%, the highest percentage of the lap spent at full throttle – not for nothing is it known as a ‘temple of speed’. The engine and KERS system will play an important role at this circuit, but it is equally important to develop an effective low-drag aerodynamic package and to make sure the car feels stable on the brakes. Michael and Nico both enjoyed strong, trouble-free races in Spa to score a solid result for the team with fifth and sixth places. We will be hoping for more of the same in Monza. Saturday 10 September will also mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Wolfgang von Trips in tragic circumstances in the 1961 race. Von Trips was well-placed to become the first German Formula One World Champion with Ferrari, and also drove sports cars for Mercedes-Benz in the early years of his career.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Belgian Grand Prix Results

Michael Schumacher places fifth and Nico Rosberg Sixth at the Belgian Grand Prix on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver Michael Schumacher moved up 19 places at the Belgian Grand Prix on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Sunday to finish in fifth.  The Belgian Grand Prix marked the 20th anniversary of Schumacher’s Formula One debut at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Nico Rosberg finished in sixth place, after an exceptional start which saw him go from fifth on the grid to leading the race at the end of the first lap before falling back.

  • The team’s fifth and sixth place finishes brought a total of 18 points, our best points score of the season so far
  • Michael ran a three-stop strategy, pitting on laps 4, 13 and 31, running medium/soft/soft/soft
  • Nico ran a two-stop strategy, pitting on laps 11 and 30, running soft/soft/medium

The pair gained a total of 14 positions on the first lap of the race: four for Nico, from fifth to first, and ten for Michael

Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P5 1:51.137
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P6 1:52.263
Weather Cool & dry
Temperatures Air: 16-17°C Track: 22-27°C

Michael Schumacher

“A wonderful ending to a wonderful weekend here in Spa. I think more than fifth place would not have been possible today but making up 19 places was a good feeling. With all my family, friends and fans here, it was an extra motivation, and I would like to thank all of them for their support. They saw an exciting race with a great strategy from our team. So all in all, for me, there was a lot of emotion and a lot of overtaking today. At the beginning I was a bit afraid that some of the flying parts might hit and damage my car, but I was lucky that nothing happened. After that, I had big fun hunting and making my way forward.”

Nico Rosberg

“I had a great start today and it was a special feeling to be leading the race in a Silver Arrow at this amazing circuit. It was great to see the traffic jam behind me with the Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari cars, but it was hard to realise that we just don’t have the pace to stay at the top. However we have made progress this weekend and today was a good result for the team. I had to push quite hard at the start and in the middle which cost me a little towards the end, which combined with Michael being on the faster soft tyres, meant that I wasn’t able to keep him behind me. Now I’m looking forward to Monza and I’m confident that we can improve further.”

Ross Brawn

“It was a very exciting race for us and nice to remember what it’s like to be at the front again, after Nico’s excellent start and early laps in the lead. Both drivers did a great job this afternoon on quite different strategies. Michael began the race on the medium tyre and got that stint of his race out of the way quickly by stopping on lap four and changing to the soft compound. The Safety Car then worked in his favour by allowing him to catch up to the cars in front, and he was obviously on the better tyre in the final laps when he was catching Nico. It’s a very nice result for him on this anniversary weekend, and especially after starting from dead last. Nico ran a two-stop strategy and, although it was a little marginal with tyre performance at times, he drove an excellent race to sixth place. Towards the end, we told him to trim his fuel: although we had a Safety Car period, one doesn’t use this to save fuel under the current rules because any fuel saved is simply extra weight carried through the rest of the race, and at that point his fuel consumption was on target. In any case, it didn’t cost him a significant amount of lap time, and the decisive factor was that Michael was on the soft tyre at the end while Nico was on the medium, which was around a second a lap slower. Overall, it was a very good team result and our best points score of the season so far.”

Norbert Haug

“A great race from Michael at his 20th anniversary here in Spa. Coming from last to fifth place is excellent and well deserved. Michael drove impeccably and the team had a great strategy in starting with the slower medium tyres to get them out of the way at an early stage. Being in a position to use the softs during his last stint, whilst Nico was on mediums, was crucial for the outcome of their races. Nico had a great start and was leading for a couple of laps but of course the speed of our current package is still not good enough to stay at the top of the field. A satisfying result for the team after the summer break; well done guys. We will try very hard in a fortnight in Monza.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Belgian Grand Prix Free Practice

The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team completed two practice sessions in preparation for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps

The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team completed two busy practice sessions today in preparation for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Conditions were typical of the Ardennes, with numerous showers through the day.

  • The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers completed a total of 74 laps in practice, equivalent to over 515 km running
  • Both drivers ran a selection of development parts during the day, including a modified front wing this afternoon
  • The technical program included evaluations of different downforce levels in the mixed wet-dry conditions

NICO ROSBERG

“It was quite difficult out there today in typical Spa conditions, but we still managed to have two good practice sessions. We learned a few things in both the dry and the wet, and managed to do some tests for both the race and qualifying, so I’m quite positive ahead of tomorrow.”

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

“It was a special feeling to be out on track today for the first practice sessions of this anniversary weekend in Spa. A lot of things have changed here in the past twenty years, but the weather certainly hasn’t! Today was another typical Spa day, with mixed conditions and very little dry running. The conditions meant that we couldn’t do much work on the set-up, although we made the most of the limited time when the circuit was dry. Even so, it will be tricky to find the right set-up compromise for Sunday, because the weather here is always so unpredictable.”

ROSS BRAWN

“We had a very mixed day in terms of weather conditions; however, the team did a good and comprehensive job. We managed to run well in the limited dry windows and learned a lot about the balance of the car in dry conditions. The challenge for Sunday will be whether to favour a wet or dry set-up, so we will need to see how the weather develops tomorrow. We will then focus on what we expect to experience in the race, rather than the qualifying conditions. This is a track which responds very strongly to high downforce in the wet but it can be quite a disadvantage in the dry. Overall, today has seen a good day’s work with the cars functioning well.”

NORBERT HAUG

“It was a typical start to a Spa weekend, just like we’ve known it for many years – partly dry but mostly wet. Both Nico and Michael did quite a lot of laps and our basis for the weekend on this unique and challenging circuit seems not too bad. The forecast predicts rain for tomorrow, so we need to be prepared for a very challenging qualifying session and we want to make sure we get the best possible results out of it.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 Belgian Grand Prix Preview

The Formula 1 summer break ends this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit

The Formula 1 summer break ends this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix at the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, marking the 12th round of the 2011 Formula One World Championship. For Michael Schumacher, the race will mark his 20th anniversary in Formula One, having made his debut at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix with the Jordan-Ford Team and retiring after the first lap due to clutch problems.

  • During qualifying, DRS can be used on 63% (4.4 km) of the circuit, only Monza has a higher percentage of DRS usage.
  • A total of 80% of the lap distance is spent at full throttle, including for 23.5 seconds from La Source to Les Combes.
  • The Belgian Grand Prix has been won from pole position just twice in the last ten years, in 2002 and 2007.

Spa-Francorchamps Circuit Information

  • Race Date: August 28, 2011
  • Circuit Name: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
  • Number of Laps: 44
  • Circuit Length: 7.004 km (4.35 miles)
  • Race Distance: 308.052 km (191.4 miles)
  • Lap Record: 1:45.108 – K Raikkonen (2004)

Michael Schumacher

“The race in Spa will certainly have a special touch to it this time, as this is where I drove my first ever Formula 1 race 20 years ago. It is hard to believe that this is back such a long time. A lot has changed in those 20 years, but one thing has not: the track still is sensational. I just love this great nature and the resulting layout with all the ups and downs. To me, Spa remains my ‘living room’, because it has been the stage for so many things which have been remarkable for my sporting career. This is why this time I would like to specifically send a big thank you to all my fans for their loyalty and support, that I was happy to receive given in those 20 years and also since my comeback. Talking about the sporting side prior to Spa, we are all returning from the summer break with fresh motivation and energy and will try to set an exclamation mark to the Belgian GP.”

Nico Rosberg

“Spa is probably one of my two favourite circuits on the Formula One calendar, along with Suzuka in Japan. It’s not only one of the most challenging tracks that we race at, but it’s also great fun to drive a Formula One car there. The circuit layout has many high-speed areas so it should suit our car well. It’s been nice to have a short break over the last few weeks and to spend time relaxing with my family and friends, but it will also be good to get back into the racing rhythm again this weekend. I know that the guys at the factory have also enjoyed the break, and that we will all be pushing hard from now until the end of the season to get the best possible results.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal

“After the summer break, everyone is looking forward to the second half of the season getting underway in Belgium this weekend. Spa is one of those tracks which are universally loved by drivers and fans, and the racing is always thrilling, usually helped by a large dose of inclement weather. It’s a truly classic circuit, and the fast, sweeping corners make it a great venue to watch the cars in action. With the two-week shutdown, there has been limited opportunity to develop the car since the last two races in Germany and Hungary, a situation which of course applies to everyone. However, we will be working hard to make the most of the weekend, and look forward to an exciting countdown to the end of the season. Congratulations to Michael who marks his 20th anniversary in Formula One this weekend. It has been an honour and a privilege to work so closely with him for 17 of those 20 years, and I look forward to more good times ahead together.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“It is always a pleasure to visit Spa-Francorchamps. This is one of the classic circuits and a true link back to the road racing history of Formula One. There is little left to say about the track itself – it offers a complete challenge to the car and engine, with some of the slowest and fastest corners of the season, plus the longest full-throttle period of the year at over 23 seconds, which is the reason why we dyno-test our engines using Spa simulation runs. Our team members have been able to recharge their batteries during the mandatory shutdown period, and we will head to Spa fully motivated for the final part of the season. It will be a special weekend for Michael, who will mark the twentieth anniversary of his Formula One debut this weekend, which is an outstanding and remarkable achievement. The races at Spa have historically been full of surprises and the weather has mostly played a major role. The layout of the circuit should suit our current technical package a little bit better than was the case at the previous two races.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix Results

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Driver Nico Rosberg scored 2 points by placing 9th in the Hungarian Grand Prix

On a damp afternoon at the Hungaroring, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver’s Nico Rosberg finished 1 lap behind McLaren-Mercedes driver and first place finisher Jenson Button, to place ninth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, scoring two points. Team-mate Michael Schumacher was forced to retire due to a gearbox problem on lap 26.

Both drivers had good starts with Nico gaining three places and Michael four positions. Nico completed four stops: on lap 12, 27, 50 and 54, running intermediate/option/prime/intermediate/prime. Michael completed two stops: on lap 13 for options and lap 26 for primes.

Nico Rosberg

“I had a decent start today and gained three positions which was encouraging. In the middle of the race, the prime tyres no longer had any grip in the increasingly damp conditions so we took the decision to put on intermediates. Unfortunately the rain shower proved not to be very strong and we had to switch to slicks which cost me a few positions. I pushed very hard to catch Buemi and Di Resta, and managed to close the gap, but it was impossible to overtake them in the last corners. So I collected just two points, but still more than last year. Now I’m looking forward to the next two races after the break. Spa and Monza are high-speed tracks where the Mercedes-Benz engine power in our car should be a benefit.”

Michael Schumacher

“An unfortunate end to my race today when we suffered a gearbox problem which forced my retirement. As far as we know, this had nothing to do with the spin I had when fighting with Felipe which was mainly caused by avoiding contact. At the start, we gambled a little with low tyre pressures as we were expecting the track to dry quite quickly, but that turned out to be very slippery to drive. I came in for dry tyres one lap too late, but we can only handle one car at a time obviously. From then onwards, the race developed normally, but I would not have been able to make a very big step forward from the position I was in when I retired.”

Ross Brawn

“Our race began well with good starts from both drivers and generally looked quite encouraging, particularly when we made the move to prime tyres at the right time. We were planning on a two-stop strategy, however the shower caught us out as we expected it to get much heavier, which didn’t happen. So that was clearly the wrong move and spoilt the race for Nico who had to try and recover from there. Michael unfortunately had a gearbox problem which forced the early retirement of his car. It’s not been a particularly auspicious weekend for us but we will take a lot of lessons from here for when we have a better car to work with.”

Norbert Haug

“In the end, it did not pay off to put Nico on intermediates when we were expecting more rain. He would have finished in seventh place which he missed by one and a half seconds after his four stops, rather than in ninth position. Nico showed good speed in the last part of the race, and the team will build on that after the summer break. Michael’s car suffered from a gearbox problem which we still have to investigate. Congratulations to Jenson Button and McLaren Mercedes for winning this dramatic race; well done and victory number 77 with Mercedes-Benz power since the start of the new era in 1997 and the 253 races since then. A well deserved summer break now for everybody and afterwards we are looking forward to the Belgian Grand Prix which will mark Michael’s 20th anniversary in Formula One.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: F1 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Round

Saturday's qualifying round for the Hungarian Grand Prix saw Rosberg and Schumacher qualify in 7th and 9th

Saturday’s qualifying round for the Hungarian Grand Prix saw Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher qualify in seventh and ninth places. Nico’s tire usage was: Q3: New Prime/New Prime, Q2: New Option, Q1: New Option. Michael followed the same tire strategy, however he completed one extra New Option tyre run in Q2.

Both Rosberg and Schumacher will have the benefit of starting on the cleaner side of the grid for Sunday’s race at the Hungaroring. Michael Schumacher currenlty holds the tracks lap record with a time of 1:19.071. During Last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Rosberg retired while Schumacher finished the race in 11 position.

Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Practice 3 Qualifying 1 Qualifying 2 Qualifying 3
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P6 P10 1:22.996 P7 1:21.243 P7 1:21.098
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P8 P8 1:22.876 P8 1:21.852 P9 1:21.907
Weather Sunny with some cloud cover
Temperatures Air: 22-23°C Track: 27-34°C

Nico Rosberg

“Qualifying in seventh place was ok today; we had a good set-up after this morning’s practice and I did a good lap in Q3. I’m pleased to have saved one set of new option tyres for the race which will hopefully help me to score some good points.”

Michael Schumacher

“The positive thing that I can take from qualifying today is that I will be starting from the better side of the grid in ninth place. However there are also things which we need to investigate further as the first two sectors did not work out well for us today. They were fine with the prime tyres, but not with the super softs, so we will have a close look into the reasons why. As always, we will try to do the best that we can in the race tomorrow.”

Ross Brawn

“A reasonable qualifying session for us today with Nico and Michael getting the most out of the car that we had. Our positions are about where we are at the moment. During this morning’s practice session, we focused on our race performance, and that should pay off for us tomorrow afternoon. It’s likely to be quite a tricky race with the tyres as the super softs are right on the limit, so we will have to look after them carefully and make the most of them.”

Norbert Haug

“Nico and the team did a good job today in getting the maximum from our current technical package and putting the car in seventh position behind the three top teams. The fact that Mark was on pole one week ago and now is in sixth place demonstrates how tough the battle in this group is, and how challenging it is to break into the top six this season. Michael had a more difficult Q3 and struggled slightly with the set-up of his car. By using primes in Q1 and doing only one outing in Q2 and Q3, Nico saved one set of fresh options for the race which will be very helpful tomorrow. It will be a challenging race for us and our aim is to come home where we are starting or slightly better.”

2011 Formula 1 Mid-Season Rule Change Review

The 2011 F1 season welcomed several rule changes, including but not limited to, the implementation of the Drag Reduction System

The 2011 F1 season welcomed a plethora of major rule changes, including but not limited to, the implementation of the Drag Reduction System (DRS) as well as the introduction of Pirelli tires. TV viewership is up worldwide making the changes appear to have made a positive impact.  What hasn’t been considered is the effect that all of the new regulations have had on the races and drivers themselves.

Now that it is mid-season, we have a look at the facts from the track.

How many overtaking manoeuvres have been made in the first nine races?

The raw total of overtaking manoeuvres during the first nine races is 623, including moves between team-mates, and passes by faster cars on the bottom three teams. This doesn’t include overtakes on the first lap or passes made because of damage.

What is the breakdown of overtaking manoeuvres?

Of the 623 passes, 175 were by faster cars on the bottom three teams and 43 were between team-mates. There have been 180 DRS-assisted passing moves, and 225 ‘normal’ (i.e. non-DRS) passes.

Which races have seen the most passing?

The top three races, using raw totals, were Montreal (136 passes), Istanbul (123 passes) and Shanghai (97 passes). The fewest were Monaco (22 passes), Silverstone (29 passes) and Melbourne (30 passes). Interestingly, the race in Valencia featured 44 passes – twice as many as in Monaco. Of these, 16 occurred in the first DRS zone and six in the second.

What has been the influence of DRS on overtaking?

DRS has accounted for 29% of passing manoeuvres in 2011. DRS passes have outnumbered normal passes at four races: Shanghai (33% of total), Istanbul (41% of total), Barcelona (35%) and Valencia (50%). The highest number of DRS passes was at Istanbul (50), followed by Shanghai (31) and Barcelona (29). The fewest were in Monaco (2), Melbourne (5) and Silverstone (6).

What has been the balance between DRS passes and normal passes?

The race in which DRS passes outweighed normal passes to the greatest extent was Valencia: 50% of passes were DRS-enabled, compared to 11% of normal moves. The race at which normal passes outweighed DRS moves to the greatest extent was Monaco, with 64% of normal moves compared to 9% of DRS moves. The next most extreme was Silverstone, with 55% of normal moves compared to 21% of DRS-assisted passes.

How much passing has been done on the first lap?

Although it could be argued that the new rules have diminished the importance of track position in the early stages of the race, a good first lap remains an important asset. Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher have only lost position on the first lap on three occasions between them this season (excluding the damage Michael sustained on lap one in Australia). Michael has made up three or more places on the first lap on four occasions; the best of these was a gain of five places on lap one in China.

How have the tyres affected the racing?

From all of the normal passes, just over 55% occurred when the difference in tyre age between the two cars was less than five laps, and 45% when it was more than five laps. Of the 180 DRS moves, 52% had tyre age difference of less than five laps, and 48% when it was more than five laps. The race where the difference in tyre age had the biggest impact was Barcelona, where ‘old’ tyres accounted for 69% of passes. The least influential races were the wet events in Montreal and Silverstone.

How many pit-stops have there been in 2011?

In nine races, there have been a total of 560 pit stops (this raw total includes penalties). Of these, 11 have been drive-through penalties and four have been ten-second stop-go penalties. The race with the highest number of stops was Istanbul (82 stops), followed by Barcelona (77 stops) and Montreal (76 stops). The fewest number of stops were in Monaco (43), Melbourne (46) and Silverstone (54). Two races have seen no penalties served – Barcelona and Valencia. The highest number of penalties was in Montreal, with four drive-through penalties.

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: 2011 F1 British Grand Prix Results

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver's Rosberg and Schumacher finished the British Grand Prix in sixth and ninth places at Silverstone

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver’s Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finished the British Grand Prix in sixth and ninth places at Silverstone while Fernando Alonso of Ferrari took the podium. Rosberg and Schumacher’s finish added 10 points to the teams totaland took the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

  • Both drivers started the race on intermediates tyies, meaning that they no longer had to use both dry compounds.
  • Nico ran a two-stop strategy, stopping for option tyres on laps 12 and 30, and making his final set last 22 laps.
  • Michael’s race was compromised by a collision with Kamui Kobayashi (retired after 23 laps due to oil leak) on lap 9 whilst running in ninth place.
  • This forced Michael to pit for a new nose and cost him a 10s stop-go penalty.
  • Michael made three stops: on lap 9 for option tyres and a new nose, lap 16 for the stop-go, and on lap 31, again for options.
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Nico Rosberg 8 MGP W02 / 07 P6 1:37.073
Michael Schumacher 7 MGP W02 / 09 P9 1:37.034
Weather Damp
Temperatures Air: 20-21°C Track: 21-27°C

Nico Rosberg

“I’m pretty pleased with our result this weekend. First of all because in qualifying we had the potential to be in the top five, and secondly we had a really good strategy in the race. My start was not good, so being able to eventually finish in sixth place is a nice result for us. And hopefully it’s the start of an upward trend, before our next home race in Germany, so I’m looking forward to confirming our performance at the Nürburgring. In the next few days, we will analyse the whole weekend with our new developments on the car, and will work hard on improving it even further.”

Michael Schumacher

“My result today is a bit of a shame, and of course I am not happy about it. I think fifth or even fourth place would not have been out of question today thanks to the superb job the guys back in Brackley and Brixworth have done. I would so much have wished to bring them some decent points this evening when we go back to the factory for a BBQ with their families. But unfortunately, and due to my fault, I cannot. Having used DRS for the first time in the race, I was arriving at the corner with over-run. Underestimating the effect, my braking was not good and this is how the collision happened. It was right to get a penalty but why it had to be a stop-go, and not a drive-through penalty, I would like to understand better as I felt it was too hard. Anyway, the good thing is that step-by-step, the hard work of our team is paying off more and more, and this is a good feeling heading towards our next home race.”

Ross Brawn

“This was a solid result for the team and a decent haul of points: after starting ninth and 13th respectively, Nico and Michael made good progress up the field. They had mixed fortunes at the start – Michael gained four positions, while Nico dropped three places as he lost out in the first few corners. Michael’s race was obviously spoiled by his collision and it carried a double penalty, as he did a slow lap to the pits and then had the stop-go penalty. However, after that he drove very well and climbed back from as low as 17th to score two points. Nico’s race was more straightforward, but we set him a real challenge asking him to go the end of the race from lap 30, and he did an extremely solid job to achieve that. This was the first race for this car specification, with new exhaust outlets and aerodynamic developments, and we had only an hour of dry running, mainly with one car, before qualifying. With that in mind, we can be encouraged by our performance today. One of our previous difficulties had been making the tyres last properly, but both drivers managed to run over 115km on a set of options this afternoon, which suggests we have made some good progress in this area.”

Norbert Haug

“The start of the race in partly damp conditions did not quite develop according to plan. Nico lost three places on lap one whereas Michael gained four. Taking into consideration that Nico completed the first lap in 12th, sixth place is a respectable result. We showed today that we could handle the tyres during a two-stop strategy, when most of the top ten finishers chose three stops. Michael had an eventful race, touching Kobayashi’s Sauber in the early stages, which forced him into the pits early for a nose change, and some laps later, a stop-go penalty. He then dropped back to 17th, so his recovery to ninth place was impressive. Well done to our team at one of our home races. We all will work very hard to further improve our package for our next home race at the Nürburgring in a fortnight.”

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: 2011 British Grand Prix Race Preview

The British Grand Prix, the first of two home races for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, takes place at Silverstone on July 10

The British Grand Prix, the first of two home races for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, takes place at Silverstone on Sunday 10 July. Located just eight miles from the team’s factory in Brackley, and 20 miles from Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth, Silverstone will be Round Nine of the 2011 Formula One World Championship.

  • At 5.891 km, Silverstone is the second longest circuit on the current Formula One calendar.
  • The current Silverstone layout is 1.24 km and 27% longer than the original first used for Formula One in 1950
  • DRS can be used for 3.35 km around the lap in qualifying, equivalent to 57% of the lap distance
  • The race has been won from pole position just three times in the last ten years

Michael Schumacher

“Silverstone is one of our home races where we will be backed by everybody from the factories in Brackley and Brixworth, and therefore we would love to do well and thank them for their hard work. However, with all the changes we have this season, it is difficult for me to judge how the track will suit our car. As always, we will probably only know more after the Friday practice sessions. We are in the process of developing further upgrades and new solutions which I am confident will help us to make a step forward again. The message for all of us is to put our heads down and work our way through, and as we are all sharing this attitude, I am sure we will get there.”

Nico Rosberg

“Silverstone is a very cool track. I’m really looking forward to all the fast corners, especially from Copse through Becketts to Stowe. I finished third last year and I hope to have another good result, especially because so many of the people working at Brackley and Brixworth will be there with their families. This is the first of our two home Grands Prix in July, so I want to give a good performance in front of our people. We will have a few new updates, and I’m curious to see how this will affect my car. Hopefully we can close the gap to the top a little bit.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal

“Silverstone is always a special weekend for our team, with the home of the British Grand Prix being located so close to our factory in Brackley and to Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines in Brixworth. It’s a great opportunity for our staff and their families to see the cars in action so close to home. Having visited the new pit and paddock complex earlier this year, combined with the layout changes implemented in 2010, I believe Silverstone is now really a venue to be proud of. We are very much looking forward to competing there next weekend. We have been working very hard on developments for the car to improve our competitive position, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the team for the commitment they have shown. We look forward to having a positive weekend at one of our home races.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

“As one of the original rounds of the Formula One calendar since 1950, the British Grand Prix is a true classic race. The circuit at Silverstone has moved with the times and, after a new layout last year, 2011 will see the start-finish line move to its third location in the circuit’s history, as well as the introduction of a modern pits complex. In spite of these changes, though, the circuit has retained its essential high-speed character and the drivers universally love it. In dry conditions, 11 corners are taken above 200 kph while during the impressive sequence between Copse and Stowe, the cars never drop below 195 kph. It is a circuit that rewards efficient aerodynamic performance, while slow speed grip is also important through the new section of the circuit, making this a wide-ranging challenge for the car. Looking to our team’s performance, we know that we are currently not in a position to challenge the top three teams in Valencia and we cannot expect that situation to turn around at Silverstone. However, a lot of hard work is being done to improve our technical package and we all will focus on achieving a decent result.”