re: Question about the Mercedes Formula 1 team......

quote:

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I’m trying to get into F1 this year, which I thought this past weekend’s race was phenomenal, however I don’t quite understand why the Mercedes cars are so much faster than everyone else’s?

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The TLDR version: they’re better because of the name: ROSS BRAWN

Most current F1 teams are on the grid as repackaged versions of older teams sold off...

This current Mercedes team actually started in the 70s as Tyrell Racing. A successful team w/ Sir Jackie Stewart winning a bunch of ships...

They sold to British American Tobacco (BAT) around 2000 and they partnered with Honda for engines. Longer story short(ish),Honda buys the team outright in 2006 — weren’t very successful, but were the first team to start development on a KERS (Hybrid) system in 2007 and Hired a guy named Ross Brawn as technical director.

[Brawn was The man behind Michael Schumacher’s success @ Ferrari.]

After only 3 years, Honda abruptly pulled out of F1 citing the financial crisis, and sold the team outright to Brawn.

Brawn has been working on the aero for the 2009 season in all of 2008 considering that season a wash.

Then he partners w/ Mercedes for engines. He Shows up with a mostly sponsorless car in 2009 and Wins the drivers & constructors championships after exploiting an aero loophole. Search: “Double Diffuser”

He sells the team outright to Mercedes in 2010, and remained there for a bit (I believe he’s still a minority partner even though he’s Sporting Director is F1 now)....

So it’s believed a combo of Mercedes dumping millions into the team + having a leg up (5+ years developing a hybrid engine on the field) + Brawn’s “rules expertise” ....when the new Hybrid powered turbo engines (KERS) Regs came fo be in 2014, Mercedes had every competitive advantage possible.

And they’ve won every single constructors and drivers championship since.

End Story time/