ROAD_DOGG33J
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- holyc0w1
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I think I saw Kimi laugh once during a podium conference.
Won't happen. The way Brawn are going, they'll be able to establish themselves in such a way that they'll be free to pick their own drivers. If Mercedes want to interfere with that, they're welcome to try, but the most likely result will be Brawn ending their partnership and getting a new engine supplier. They'll have the power to do that, given their results. They may even welcome Honda back into the fold as a supplier. Brawn is happy with his two drivers for now: he's worked with Barrichello before, and he's arleady stated that he regrets not looking closely at Button as a potential Ferrari driver. It's McLaren who have Hamilton under contract, not Mercedes. Ross Brawn is as savvy as they come, and no doubt he's picked up on the fact that ever since McLaren signed Hamilton, they've consistently made the kind of mistakes that get your penalised and that Hamilton threw away one championship and won the second on luck. Brawn would have to know that the true test of a driver's ability is how he handles a car that is diffcult to drive: Button and Barrichello showed exceptional loyalty to Honda in a dismal 2007 and 2008, but there's already talk that Hamilton may jump ship from McLaren two races in with a bad car (and given the way those two races ended - one under the safety car and one before its time - it's difficult to judge Hamilton in a poor car). From a completely objective standpoint, I'd say that all of that combined with Hamilton's pricey fee would mean he's more trouble than he's worth going into the team's second season, widely considered the most critical to their success.
Mercedes-Benz may not leave F1, but that doesn't mean they won't build IndyCar engines again. The idea that Mercedes-Benz would return to America as an IndyCar engine manufacturer isn't far-fetched given the fact that North America is Mercedes-Benz' biggest market, F1 abandoned North America, Mercedes-Benz was a winning IndyCar engine manufacturer, and Ilmor currently designs and builds the current Mercedes-Benz F1 engine and the current Honda IndyCar engine.
Which was completely justified for what they did.
You are the only one to have suggested this.
Oh, I love how the FIA feels the need of raising the moral pedestal in a sport. If there's anyone who doesn't respect F1 teams is the FIA/FOM tandem. Remember when the teams all agreed to the "medals system" and were consulted according to Bernie? Someone correct me if that's not a lie. But when the bosses do it, it's not disrupting the moral fiber of F1 (or should I say "moral latex", Mr Mosley?)
And how long ago were McLaren first penalized - two years ago? When they had someone else as team director? Do they consider every single fault they've had through history? Hey, I've got an idea - ban them for life! Might as well. That'll make sure nobody commits the same mistakes again!
