Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team (or Mercedes GP for short) is the F1 racing team of the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. They began racing under this name in 2010 although Mercedes-Benz did debut in Formula One back in 1954. This team however is the reincarnation of Brawn GP; which was the team ran and owned by Ross Brawn, who is Team Principal of the new team, after is was bought by Mercedes at the end of the 2009 season when it won both the Constructors Championship and the Drivers Championship (Jenson Button)."By the team's own admission, the strain and pressure of winning both championships last year as Brawn has had a huge knock-on effect on their 2010 title challenge.
"That always happens unless you are a team with a huge depth of resources and technical nous.
"I would never back against Mercedes winning a race in the second half of the season as Ross Brawn is a clever man, he has good people in the team and Mercedes deliver a great engine.
"The balance between drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg continues to pique interest.
"I always stated it was a mistake for Schumacher to come back and my opinion has not changed.
"Rosberg is still providing Schumacher with stiff competition but I don't think the legacy of the great champion is being damaged."
What is F1's biggest challenge?
F1's biggest challenge is to stay relevant for all of our stakeholders, our fans and the media. We have to ensure that the sport is shaped for the future by making it highly entertaining, economically viable for the manufacturers and teams, and with as much relevance as possible for our society on a wider scale.
Does F1 need road-car manufacturers?
I believe it does. Manufacturers of the calibre of Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari have been the core of F1 for many years and along with the other manufacturers who are currently involved or have been involved in the past, they add to the strength of F1 and are a great asset to the sport.
 | MERCEDES GP FACTS AND STATS Nationality: German Headquarters: Brackley (UK) Debut season: 2010 (last raced in 1954/55) Drivers: Test/reserve driver: Nick Heidfeld Team principal: Ross Brawn Chief designer: John Owen Engine: Mercedes-Benz V8 2009 position: 1st (as Brawn) Constructors' titles: 1 (as Brawn) |
Will having more teams on the grid make F1 more competitive?
More teams will make F1 more interesting but not necessarily more competitive. My view is that the main battle will still be between three or four teams with the others nibbling round the edges.
But I think it's very exciting to see so many new teams this year and to see how they will progress over the season. It's a fantastic element of F1 because there's not just racing at the front, there's racing all the way through the field, and that provides added interest for the fans.
Will non-refuelling change Formula 1 for the better or worse?
The refuelling ban is going to be a fascinating new challenge this season and until the racing actually gets underway, none of us really knows if it will be for better or worse.
The emphasis on pit stops will be quite different and present a big challenge for the teams with just three or four seconds to make the tyre changes which increases the potential for errors.
One advantage is that we will get to see the fastest car in qualifying and while that does put the fastest car at the front of the grid, it adds pressure to the pole driver to have a perfect race.
The best piece of advice I've ever given a driver is…
... go fast, don't crash! It's the best way to get across the finish line.
The best piece of advice I've received is…
... treat others as you want to be treated yourself. That's what my father always told me.
What kind of team boss are you - hairdryer treatment or arm around the shoulder?
Arm around the shoulder.
Wheeler-dealer or techie?
Both! I'm a wheeler-dealer techie. You have to be both when you are in a senior position in an F1 team. You have to find compromises and concessions.
What was your first paid job?
I was a labourer on a building site during my summer holidays at school.
What time do you set your alarm clock for?
6.15am when I'm at home.
How do you think Ross Brawn and Mercedes will do this championship season? Please feel free to share your views and predictions below, just hit the comment button!
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