Mercedes announce £70m factory expansion

22 comments on “Mercedes announce £70m factory expansion”

1. 

   Scottie (@scottie)
   23rd May 2023, 4:05

   It’s certainly interesting how teams are using their new found spare cash.

   I look forward to the on campus specialty training and niche engineering side hustles to come of the new opportunities.

   Williams was a little ahead of its time with it’s applied engineering arm back in the day.
   1. 

      frood19 (@frood19)
      23rd May 2023, 7:12

      I really don’t understand how this is possible within the cost cap – have I completely misunderstood it? Are they borrowing from future years’ caps? I wondered the same about Lawrence Stroll’s massive investment in force India and never got a clear answer on how it could be allowed within the cost cap rules.
      1. 

         S
         23rd May 2023, 7:42

         You are forgetting that the teams played a huge role in the creation of the budget cap rules…..
         When competitors create the rules, they also create all the exclusions and loopholes.
      2. 

         MacLeod (@macleod)
         23rd May 2023, 8:08

         Strolls massive investement where before the costcap was implimented (the start of those building) Also there are things which aren’t in the costcap building a building could be one of those.
      3. 

         DB-C90 (@dbradock)
         23rd May 2023, 11:27

         Pretty sure capital works (buildings etc) is excluded from cost cap.
   2. 

      Mayrton
      23rd May 2023, 12:53

      This shows again the cost cap is not something real or realistic. Well, its there but it is not real in the sense that it influences (flattens) the competition. It doesn’t. Some teams are still more equal than others.
2. 

   Jere (@jerejj)
   23rd May 2023, 6:09

   I still highly doubt Hamilton would join Ferrari, but I don’t entirely rule out this possibility either because stranger things have happened in F1.

   The New Scientist article is interesting. If some drivers really blink at the same circuit parts every lap, that couldn’t be entirely coincidental.
   The series in question is either Super Formula or Super GT because the track locations mentioned are Suzuka, Fuji, & Sugo, which appear together annually only in these two categories.

   I agree with the COTD in principle. Monaco GP in dry-weather conditions could be the most processional in a given season, but not always.
   Even if yes, a dry race can also feature decent excitement or racing like the 2018 & ’19 lead battles show. Overtaking isn’t everything in the end.
   1. 

      slowmo (@slowmo)
      23rd May 2023, 9:10

      @jerejj my bet is the Ferrari leak is from Hamilton’s camp to bump up his contract during the negotiations. It makes no sense to jump ship from Mercedes to Ferrari at the moment as they have at least a few years of restructuring to do, to be serious challengers again imo.
      1. 

         drmouse (@drmouse)
         23rd May 2023, 9:27

         TBH I don’t think it makes sense for a driver to jump from Merc or Ferrari to anywhere except RBR, nor does it make much sense for either of the teams to swap take a driver from the other. Overall, neither team are performing significantly better than the other, and it’s a toss-up whether Merc get their chassis sorted or Ferrari get their organisation restructured first. As to the drivers, all are performing on a similar level. I strongly doubt anyone will be moving between these 2 teams.
         1. 

            Todfod (@todfod)
            23rd May 2023, 11:53

            it make much sense for either of the teams to swap take a driver from the other.

            That’s coz no one wants Sainz. I don’t see anyone leaving Mercedes for Ferrari either… Lewis has won 6 championships with them.. he trusts them to deliver more than he trusts a team thats failed to deliver in 15 seasons.
   2. 

      drmouse (@drmouse)
      23rd May 2023, 9:20

      Overtaking isn’t everything in the end.

      I completely agree that overtaking isn’t everything. There’s nothing better, for me, than a multi-lap battle for position, with the driver chasing constantly putting pressure on the leader, trying to force them to make a mistake, looking for an opportunity to pass. It’s really exciting because you’re never quite sure if or when a pass will happen.

      However, that’s where Monaco generally falls short for me. Because it’s nearly impossible to overtake on track, even these situations don’t have me on the edge of my seat. Even in 2019, with a close and potentially exciting HAM/VER battle, a pass was such a distant possibility that it wasn’t the even close to the same level of excitement as it would be on any other track. On any other track, HAM running a little wide in a corner, slightly outbraking himself, would have resulted in a pass, whereas in Monaco that isn’t the case.

      With the size of the current cars, Monaco is just too narrow IMHO. Even back around 2008, the hairpin was just about an overtaking opportunity (although a very difficult one to pull off). Now, not a chance. Monaco is just not suitable for modern F1 cars, or put another way modern F1 cars are not suitable for Monaco.
      1. 

         Qeki (@qeki)
         23rd May 2023, 9:27

         @drmouse I don’t know who’s idea it was in the first place but they have the cards in their hands to say where F1 cars can race nowadays. By making them even larger and heavier they need wider and more open tracks. This way they don’t need Monaco, Spa, Monza anymore. Then they add some street circuits to the calendar so I don’t quite get it. It’s not like Jeddah is much different from Monaco?
      2. 

         Jere (@jerejj)
         23rd May 2023, 15:14

         @drmouse @qeki
         While car size may be an issue, overtaking has always (& will always be) been equally difficult in Monaco regardless of dimensions, weight, DRS, tyres, powertrains, anything, etc.
         Just nothing to do that could make Monaco more overtaking-friendly, since widening & alternative track configuration options are undoable or limited.
         1. 

            drmouse (@drmouse)
            23rd May 2023, 16:09

            overtaking has always (& will always be) been equally difficult in Monaco

            While I agree that overtaking always has and always will be difficult, I disagree that it has always been equally difficult.
            – Logically, on a section of track of a set width, wider and longer* cars make overtaking more difficult.
            – Empirically, there are fewer overtakes now than with previous, smaller cars. There are places which were known overtaking spots, albeit very difficult ones, which are never used anymore.

            * Longer cars will generally have a larger turning circle, reducing the available space for an overtake.
3. 

   Short Circuit (@jjohn)
   23rd May 2023, 9:40

   COTD is excellent, even better in its unabridged form.
   Ferrari have made some monumental errors lately, but surely they are not serious about Hamilton 🥴

   There are more accurate takes on F1stars “taming the brickyard” and politicking elsewhere.
   1. 

      Mayrton
      23rd May 2023, 12:55

      Its hard to imagine, but then again AM went for Vettel as well which rationally didn’t make sense at all.
      1. 

         David
         23rd May 2023, 16:13

         Vettel to AM was entirely rational if you understand what Lawrence Stroll is trying to achieve.
4. 

   David BR (@david-br)
   23rd May 2023, 10:45

   I’d love to see Hamilton at Ferrari. It’s been rumoured so many times over the years, it’s difficult to take seriously. Clearly it suits both camps (Hamilton and Ferrari) to have these rumours circulating. But Verstappen could well be in an unassailable Red Bull for several years. Hamilton may at least enjoy these years in a new environment and, who knows, maybe all his title successes can make a difference. The big question is Leclerc. Wouldn’t it be a vote of no confidence in him? In a car he likes, I’d expect Hamilton to be typically a bit faster than Leclerc but also a lot more consistent. If Ferrari reckon the same, that’s a tempting combination. Maybe Leclerc himself would prefer Hamilton there to Sainz too. It’s intriguing, even if all very unlikely.
   1. 

      Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
      23rd May 2023, 13:45

      Yes I agree with this. I would like to see it but from Lewis’ point of view, is it worth it. Merc are just as likely to be able to bring their car up to the level of the Red Bull as Ferrari.

      I cannot believe the money alone would be enough. He wants that eighth title.
      1. 

         Jason (@jasonj)
         23rd May 2023, 15:40

         @phil-f1-21

         He wants that eighth title.

         That 8th isn’t coming unless he lands himself in a Red Bull, since Hamilton clearly knows that, the next best thing is cash and a serious amount of avid supporters buying his merchandise, for years to come.
      2. 

         David BR (@david-br)
         23rd May 2023, 16:29

         @phil-f1-21 I think it would be prestige of driving for Ferrari and the prospect of winning a title at another constructor. The question you hit on is whether Merc are just as likely as Ferrari to bring their car up to Red Bull level. They clearly have the resources, I’m not sure how much they’ve learnt about listening to their drivers though.
5. 

   RandomMallard
   23rd May 2023, 11:10

   As much as I would like to see Hamilton in a Ferrari, I would trust (the recently departed) Mystic Meg before I trusted anything the Daily Mail has to say.

   Tragic news about the Baja Rally attack. Rest In Peace to all those who were killed, and thoughts and prayers to their friends, families and other survivors.

   Re the Indy 500 article, one does wonder if F1 is a little rich to talk about “dubious politicking from the race stewards”…

   Very emotional story from Jennie Gow. Glad to see that she seems to be doing alright.

   Re COTD, I think Monaco does have the potential to be a very good race, and is one where strategy can very much be the deciding factor. And it has the single best qualifying session of the year, so I’d keep it for that reason as well.

   In my opinion, it looks like Williams are going to be announcing a Gulf livery. 2021 likely refers to the McLaren Monaco Gulf livery of that year, and the shot at the end looks like it could represent a showroom, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Gulf get another run out at Monaco.

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