Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Shimmy · 25 Feb 2013 at 11:30

The Guardian are reporting Paddy Lowe will join Mercedes for 2014.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/feb/25/paddy-lowe-mercedes-f1-mclaren

Tenzo · 25 Feb 2013 at 11:46

Shimmy said:
The Guardian are reporting Paddy Lowe will join Mercedes for 2014.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/feb/25/paddy-lowe-mercedes-f1-mclaren

So that's why Hamilton was so miserable in the interview Day 4

~Mike~ · 25 Feb 2013 at 11:48

Brawn to McLaren then.

Skeeter · 25 Feb 2013 at 12:17

Mercedes are taking a massive risk. Just because you employ a bunch of people doesn't mean they will work well together.

However, if it does, they could have some real success. Its going to be interesting to watch what happens.

GravyMonster · 25 Feb 2013 at 14:33

There are going to be a hell of a lot of cooks in the Mercedes kitchen now.

That always works well... oh wait....

Guerrilla · 25 Feb 2013 at 15:04

Maybe they are palnning to just hire everyone so the other teams can't get them.

Shimmy · 25 Feb 2013 at 15:09

Tim Goss appointed as new McLaren Technical Director with immediate effect.

Basically confirming the above.

Skeeter · 25 Feb 2013 at 15:23

So when Whitmarsh said Lowe was definitely with McLaren for this year...

:rolleyes:

Bring back big Ron, before there's no team left for him to come back to.

arknor · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:18

Spunkey said:
There are going to be a hell of a lot of cooks in the Mercedes kitchen now.

That always works well... oh wait....

They were working on the 2013 and 2014 cars a the same time and I know they said the 2 aero guys were working on the different cars so maybe the cooks aren't all working in the same kitchen

FrankJH · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:27

Skeeter said:
So when Whitmarsh said Lowe was definitely with McLaren for this year...

Bring back big Ron, before there's no team left for him to come back to.

Well to be fair Whitmarsh is right......Lowe will be on "gardening leave"

(edit - but still paid by McLaren)
(ie not with either team lol)

Mr Men · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:27

Strange time to move, considering he will have very little if any input in the 2014 car.

Skeeter · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:28

FrankJH said:
Well to be fair Whitmarsh is right......Lowe will be on "gardening leave" (edit - but still paid by McLaren)
(ie not with either team lol)

Getting his McLaren pay while doodling on napkins about ways to best fit the Mercedes 2014 engine into the rear of a 'generic, silver chassis'

FrankJH · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:29

Skeeter said:
Getting his McLaren pay while doodling on napkins about ways to best fit the Mercedes 2014 engine into the rear of a 'generic, silver chassis'

Well yes thats a fair point too

Just as the BBC remarked about Newey's escape from Williams and the front wings being identical

Skeeter · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:31

Has this been officially confirmed by either team? I assume McLaren are going to try and keep him under contract for the rest of this year to prevent him working at Merc before the start of 2014. However, if they want to, I'm sure Merc could get that contract broken? Or McLaren could just let him leave.

I would be surprised if he actually spent the whole year unable to work at either team.

FrankJH · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:37

Skeeter said:
Has this been officially confirmed by either team? I assume McLaren are going to try and keep him under contract for the rest of this year to prevent him working at Merc before the start of 2014. However, if they want to, I'm sure Merc could get that contract broken? Or McLaren could just let him leave.

I would be surprised if he actually spent the whole year unable to work at either team.

According to the BBC he is on gardening leave - and with the McLaren promotion (without even considering what future, for '13 season at least, plans he could glean etc - there isnt any possibility of him working there imo).

Surely its worth McLaren's while to keep him NOT working at Merc as long as possible (given how fast F1 moves, what info he does know now about McLaren's dev plans, will be nigh on irrelevant in 11 months time)

Of course he will know broad outlines about 2014 car - how much would be written in stone now though....anyone's guess.

edit - yes I know teams have been working on 2014 cars already, and maybe Lowe was on this and not the '13 car - ....or is he a "general" day to day operations guy as it sounds like his Merc job will be rather than specifics to the cars themselves?

~Mike~ · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:53

Skeeter said:
Has this been officially confirmed by either team? I assume McLaren are going to try and keep him under contract for the rest of this year to prevent him working at Merc before the start of 2014. However, if they want to, I'm sure Merc could get that contract broken? Or McLaren could just let him leave.

I would be surprised if he actually spent the whole year unable to work at either team.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105705

Speaking about his new role, Goss said: "I'm delighted to have been offered the technical directorship of McLaren, and I'm greatly looking forward to making a significant contribution to the team's ongoing success in that role."

Speaking about Lowe's position going forwards, Whitmarsh said: "Paddy [Lowe] will be performing a different role within McLaren until the end of the year.

"He's been a good and successful F1 technical director, and we wish him well when he embarks on a fresh challenge in 2014."

Skeeter · 25 Feb 2013 at 16:59

Cool.

If McLaren are going to keep him working for them, I assume they would at least get him doing something rather than paying for him to sit at home? They could keep him on the road/track with the race team and out of the factory?

Duke · 25 Feb 2013 at 17:33

Cleaning the toilets.

FrankJH · 25 Feb 2013 at 18:24

Skeeter said:
Cool.

If McLaren are going to keep him working for them, I assume they would at least get him doing something rather than paying for him to sit at home? They could keep him on the road/track with the race team and out of the factory?

Surely thats just as bad as being at the factory?

Being the kind of man he is - as in near the pinacle of his profession - surely he could learn a huge amount at the track to take to Merc.

I suppose he could always work in the MTC but solely to do with the road cars.

Did Williams / McLaren ever say what Newey did during the same phase?
(I dont believe they did but I could well be wrong)

deuse · 25 Feb 2013 at 19:04

Well done Mercedes

I bet Mclaren will let him leave in 6 months time. And I think Brawn will still be the man in 2014.