Mercedes-Benz

NEW Mercedes driver George Russell has put their Formula One rivals on high alert after stating their new car needs a ‘huge amount of improvement’.The 23-year-old has hinted that the Silver Arrows’ dominance in F1 is under threat when giving his assessment of the new ‘W13’ vehicle.
George Russell has stated the new Mercedes car needs a ‘huge amount of improvement’Credit: PA
Former Williams star Russell will be driving alongside Lewis Hamilton for the 2022 seasonCredit: Alamy
Mercedes have won the last eight Constructors’ Championships, despite his team-mate Lewis Hamilton being pipped to last season’s title by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Speaking ahead of their car launch next week, Russell didn’t give a glowing evaluation of the vehicle.
The former Williams ace told Mercedes’ YouTube channel: “First impressions of W13 have been interesting. 
“It’s a very different car to the previous era – and the characteristics of how the downforce is completely different so we’re still learning as we are going.”
Before adding: “There’s still a huge amount of improvement to be made to bring everything together and make it as nice as possible to drive.
“I foresee a lot of people being in the same boat.
“We’re just learning so much day after day, whether it be in the winter or in the simulator and I think it’s going to be a year of development.
“I think everyone wants to go into the first race and have the fastest car possible.
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“But what will be more important is understanding what your limitations are and how you’re going to improve from those limitations to build the best foundation possible.”
In positive news for Mercedes fans, the team all-but ended speculation regarding Hamilton’s future in F1 by stating he will race for them in the 2022 season.
There were fears that the 37-year-old could retire from the sport after he was controversially denied a record eighth world title in the final race of 2021.
However he is set to continue racing following a Mercedes news release put out ahead of their car launch.
Mercedes referred to Hamilton and Russell as ‘our drivers’, who will attend the February 18 event.
Part of the statement read: “You’ll have the chance to hear from our 2022 drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and our Team Principal and CEO, Toto Wolff.”

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LEWIS HAMILTON looks set to continue racing after Mercedes confirmed he will attend their car launch next week.There were fears that the 37-year-old could retire from Formula One after he was controversially denied a record eighth world title in the final race of 2021.
Mercedes have all-but confirmed Lewis Hamilton will race for them in the 2022 seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Hamilton was pipped to the championship by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The British legend was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
And with fresher tyres having pitted, Verstappen overtook his rival after stewards decided to allow lapped cars to overtake.
FIA director Michael Masi had initially indicated lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would stay in their formation, only to change his mind, resulting in the Brit claiming that the race ‘has been manipulated’.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff then declared that Hamilton had been left ‘disillusioned’ with the sport – fuelling speculation his time in F1 was over.
But Hamilton announced he’s ‘back’ last week as he broke his social media silence in a huge hint he is ready for another challenge.
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And now his future has been all-but guaranteed in a news release by the Silver Arrows previewing their car launch event.
Mercedes referred to Hamilton and new driver George Russell as ‘our drivers’, who will attend the February 18 event.
Part of the statement read: “You’ll have the chance to hear from our 2022 drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and our Team Principal and CEO, Toto Wolff.”
Hamilton’s return to action is likely to take place on February 23 in pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Following that, there will be another short testing period in Bahrain prior to the opening race there on March 20.

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MICHAEL SCHUMACHER’S old company car has flopped at auction.The F1 legend’s Mercedes C63 AMG Estate fetched only £23,300 when £81k was expected.
All-time great Michael Schumacher was given the car in 2010 but despite such a pedigree it only fetched the average value for such a modelCredit: Bonhams/Peter Singhof 2021
German ace Schumacher won seven world F1 titles from 1994 to 2004 but his legendary status failed to attract big bids for the Mercedes EstateCredit: PA:Press Association
But a customised Tesla Roadster he drove to Nations Cup glory with Sebastian Vettel in the same year, 2010, roared up to £116,700.
Schumacher, 53, has largely been cared for at home since suffering a life-changing brain injury in a 2013 ski crash.
Few details of his condition have emerged since, although it’s understood the German has had stem cell treatment in an attempt to regenerate his nervous system.
But Schumacher’s place as one of motorsport’s all-time greats is assured.
His former estate car was a prize exhibit at Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques du Monde [‘The World’s Leading Brands’] auction in Paris.
Instead, though, it only made the typical price for a model of that age and mileage owned by you or I.
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Schuey was given the family ‘runaround’ vehicle in January 2010 as he prepared for an F1 comeback.
Daimler GP had just bought the Brawn GP team – renaming it ‘Mercedes GP’.
That meant star man Schumacher needed a car away from the track to reflect the team’s new status.
The Merc estate he was given goes from 0-60 in under 4.6 seconds and is laced with £15,000 worth of extras.
Schuey kept it for six months and most of its mileage was done by its second owner, a Swiss man, from 2011-2015.
A Mercedes engineer then bought it, changing the wheels but barely clocked up 1,000 kilometres in three years.
And its last owner, from 2018 until January this year, only drove it in summer.
That took the mileage from a 457-horsepower, 6.2-litre V8 engine up to 94,450miles.
SCHUEY TESLA SPARKS INTEREST
Now it’s up to the unnamed auction winner to see if the small piece of history gets the same careful treatment.
In contrast, a Tesla Roadster sparked huge interest at the auction as it eventually sold for £116k.
Schumacher and Vettel raced in the electric speedster at the 2010 Race of Champions.
Current models of the car can reach 60mph in 1.9secs.
And this particular one was adapted for the event 12 years ago, with a roll bar and carbon racing seats added.
Its auction value was also given a kick up the boot by the fact several drivers signed part of the rear spoiler. More

LEWIS HAMILTON will clock in for his day at work in 2022 today – ending speculation he will quit F1.Hamilton is expected at the team’s Brackley HQ to run through the finer details on their 2022 F1 car.
Lewis Hamilton will end speculation over his F1 future todayCredit: Daimler AG
He is expected at Marcedes’ Brackley HQ to run through details on their 2022 F1 carCredit: Getty
This season will see radical new designs introduced to make the racing closer and more competitive.
Hamilton broke his silent protest at the weekend with his first post on social media since losing his F1 title in controversial circumstances.
At the Abu Dhabi GP, Race Director Michael Masi failed to obey safety car rules allowing Max Verstappen to pass Hamilton on his way to winning the race and the title.
Hamilton’s silence, coupled with Merc boss Toto Wolff’s claim that he did not know whether Hamilton would return to F1 as he was left ‘disillusioned’ with the sport, raised doubts as to whether the 37-year-old would retire.
However, his work at the factory sends the strongest signal yet that he intends to return to fight for a record eighth world title.
Hamilton, who shared a clip of him running yesterday, was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54 in last season’s finale, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
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He has since been accused of trying to get FIA Race Director Michael Masi the sack, after he failed to obey the correct rules by allowing lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.
That resulted in a one-lap sprint to decide the title, Verstappen’s fresher tyres making all the difference.
Hamilton’s day in the factory comes after his new teammate George Russell spent time adjusting to the team at Brackley on Monday.
The opening race of the 2022 season will take place in Bahrain on March 20.
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Speculation has been rife for months that the Brit may retire after his controversial title lossCredit: Alamy More

MERCEDES have dropped the biggest hint yet that Lewis Hamilton will race for them this season with another social media tease.The 37-year-old had remained silent since December’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – where he controversially lost his world title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton shared a clip of himself running on social media yesterdayCredit: Instagram
Mercedes have now dropped the biggest hint yet he will return after posting this snap and a ‘Welcome back’ messageCredit: Twitter @MercedesAMGF1
The Brit is understood to have been considering QUITTING the sport.
That was after he missed out on a record eighth championship on the final lap in the Middle East.
But Hamilton suggested he is ready to go again to his 26.8million Instagram followers last week.
He shared a snap of him smiling in front of the Grand Canyon captioned: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
Mercedes were quick to comment, as they messaged: “Welcome back.”
‘He is back’ soon started trending on social media, to which Mercedes shared and then messaged again: “That’s right.”
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Hamilton continued his social media comeback yesterday by sharing a video of him running with physio Angela Cullen captioned it with: “Back at it.”
Now Mercedes have provided the clearest indication yet that he will be behind the wheel again in March once the new season gets underway.
They showed an image of him in his racing suit looking at messages of support received on social media along with the message ‘Welcome back’ as they tagged him in it.
There still has been no official confirmation yet from the team or driver, but it’s the biggest hint yet he will be back in action next season.
And there is unlikely to be any further comment until the FIA delivers the results of its investigation into what happened in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54 in last season’s finale, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
He has since been accused of trying to get FIA Race Director Michael Masi the sack, after he failed to obey the correct rules by allowing lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.
That resulted in a one-lap sprint to decide the title, Verstappen’s fresher tyres making all the difference.
Hamilton is due to report back to Mercedes duty on February 23 for pre-season testing.
The opening race of the 2022 season will take place in Bahrain on March 20. More

LEWIS HAMILTON proclaimed “I’m back” as the Formula One superstar broke his social media silence.Hamilton, 37, has been uncharacteristically silent since December’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – where he lost his world title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton posted this snap on Instagram to his 26.8 million followersCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
Hamilton missed out on the Formula One world title after Max Verstappen beat him in Abu DhabiCredit: AFP
The Brit is understood to have been considering QUITTING the sport after missing out on a record eighth championship on the final lap in the Middle East.
But Hamilton suggested he is ready to go again to his 26.8million Instagram followers, smiling in a snap in front of the Grand Canyon captioned: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
Mercedes were quick to comment, as they messaged: “Welcome back.”
Hamilton was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54 in last season’s finale, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
He has since been accused of trying to get FIA Race Director Michael Masi the sack, after he failed to obey the correct rules by allowing lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.
That resulted in a one-lap sprint to decide the title, Verstappen’s fresher tyres making all the difference.
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New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted last month that Hamilton is “not 100 per cent ready” to commit his future to the sport.
Ben Sulayem claimed: “I don’t think he’s 100 per cent ready to respond right now.
“We don’t blame him. I understand his position.”
While former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone admitted he did not think the Brit would be returning.
The 91-year-old told Blick: “I don’t think he’s coming back. His disappointment is too big. And you can somehow understand it.
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“Now it would be time to tackle his dream of becoming a fashion entrepreneur with seven world titles like Michael Schumacher.”
Hamilton is due to report back to Mercedes duty on February 23 for pre-season testing.
The opening race of the 2022 season will take place in Bahrain on March 20. More