Wishing Robert Kubica The Best Of Luck

I want to wish Robert Kubica the very best of luck in his new motorsport venture.

If you're unaware, read this great article from ESPN.

I hope to see him race in the DTM because he really was a future champion in the making, I can't help but wonder about a Raikkonen-Kubica partnership at Lotus. Kimi doesn't agree with many people, Robert may have been one of the only ones.

Maybe somebody single seater racing will be on the agenda, right now I'm just glad he's getting back on his feet.

Glock's Gone!

UPDATE: 

It appears Glock has turned towards the DTM driving for old F1 outfit BMW (ESPN). For those who are unaware, the DTM is the German version of touring cars and has had a number of former F1 stars such as David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher.

I will personally miss him but since I have access to the DTM I am still excited to see him race and I'd like to wish him the best of luck!

Toto Weird Turn Of Events

"I just dread to think that a Motorsport lover will be replaced with somebody with money in their eyes" - My words from my blog on Norbert Haug's exit

I have to say, it doesn't take very much to confuse me but one of the biggest mind boggles I have ever come across is the world of business. So it's safe to say when the news about Toto Wolff apparently leaving his Williams post for Mercedes emerged, I scratched a hole in my head.

I'm not entirely sure about how confirmed it is, but my rule is if Autosport report it, it's probably right. To read their report, click here. 

It was to my understanding that he was going to become Sir Frank Williams successor, a move which I believe would have ushered in a new era of success at the team but it's not likely to be.

The more and more I learn about him, the more and more I start to like him. If he takes up the role, he'll effectively be replacing Nobert Haug who left Mercedes via mutual consent in December 2012. If you have been reading my blog you'll recall I wrote a piece on Haug's departure. If not, click here to read it.

It seems as though my fear has come true. At the end of the day, Wolff's a business man at heart ironically owning shares in Haug's DTM. How much will this affect the racing? My prediction, a lot.

Mercedes seem to be building a monopoly of total dominance: Once Schumacher was out of the way they started reshuffling the pack. They get rid of Haug and replaced him with Wolff, that covered the business end of things. It's a widely known fact that Niki Lauda is associated with the team, this covers the face and voice of Mercedes as he's a well known and respected character (I personally am a Hunt man but that's another story). And of course the biggest aspect to me and to the fans is the racing. Who did the team get to cover that? A man who many consider the quickest and best in Formula 1 at this current time. Lewis Hamilton has the racing covered.

Mercedes certainly have a hand to go all in with, but my guess is we won't see it this year. I think they'll break everyone in to their roles and quietly develop the revolutionary new engine for the season after. Then they spring their trap and complete a power shift, and as a factory team they, along with Ferrari and Lotus (Renault previously but they still have the factory relationship) will become the real power houses in the game. 

A new era is dawning and whatever anybodies opinion, there's no denying that Mercedes are certainly looking towards the future.

Bitter-sweet exit Norbert?

I'm not sure what quote to start with tonight so I guess I'll just leave this space blank.

This is quite awkward post tonight because, there's so many stories and so many views on one point. To be entirely honest I'm not really sure what to make of it. So I'm going post each story, splitting the blog into bits and hopefully I'll develop a view along the way. It could either turn out to be a terrific blog or a complete dive so here goes.

Haug leaves Mercedes

After 22 years in Formula 1, German Motorsport journalist and businessman Norbert Haug is to step down from his post from Mercedes a company of great racing pedigree. In fact if you take away Formula 1 from the equation just to set Ferrari aside, the greatest manufacturing company in the world. 

He was at the centre of reintroducing Mercedes to Formula 1 in 1992 when he and Peter Sauber negotiated an engine deal.  After that he essentially re-branded the McLaren name as we all know today, titling it McLaren Mercedes.

There is no doubt about it, this man is Motorsport in his brain! Aside from Formula 1, he basically created the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) which if you're not as fluent in German as I am (cough, cough) is the German touring car championship. This 60 year old is way cooler than just a suit and a tie, he races in the Porsche Carrera Cup, tested an F1 car and; he came SECOND in the 24 Hours Nurburgring in 1985. Sufficed to say this man doesn't just sit on his arse.

But it's not all a love story. In 2010 his dream was complete of having a Mercedes F1 Team. However unfortunately due to whatever reason, even under the direction of Ross Brawn and with the driving brilliance of Michael Schumacher the team only managed one victory in three seasons (and that came from Schumachers supposed protege Nico Rosberg).

Schumacher's Opinion

It's also no secret that Haug was the one who pushed for Schumacher to become a part of the new team and Formula 1 again. They look like brothers in arms when they're together. They happen to be quite good friends outside the sport. It's no surprise Schumacher would be disappoitned and so outspoken about his departure. But this next article is the inspiration for the blog.

Haug's Reason

Bad results Norman. Sure. His dream turned out to be a bit of a damp squib of course. Although Schumacher is God and his stint at Mercedes is no way a bad mark on his status, it's hard to deny that one misfiring cylinder was always going to hurt the teams points tally. And one podium in three years for God is not good enough.

Mutual consent in Formula 1 is the same as every sport. It means jump before you're pushed. I think it's just too much to be a coincidence that the moment Lewis Hamilton replaces Haug's man, he's gone at the end of the season. And Hamilton's purchase was always branded as a Brawn move. I'm not saying he's gone because of Schumacher's retirement, maybe the company decided he's had enough. Whatever the reason, I hope it's not because of Niki Lauda joining the board because despite his driving acomplishments, I'd hate to see him directing Mercedes, they will almost certain focus the majority of their energy in Formula 1 and that will be devastating for Motorsport in general.

 At the end of the day he was chief boss at Mercedes. So I guess this won't impact on track, but I just dread to think that a Motorsport lover will be replaced with somebody with money in their eyes. Although this could maybe even benefit the team. After tasting victory and with Hamilton in his prime, he could upset a lot of the odds next season, maybe within two a world championship could be on the cards! You heard it here first!