Category: Mercedes-Benz

2012 Monaco GP: Qualifying report

Post author By Liam
Post date 27 May, 2012
3 Comments on 2012 Monaco GP: Qualifying report

Finally, it could be interpreted, Michael Schumacher (Mercedes AMG) has justified his return to F1 by claiming a quasi-maiden pole position in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix overnight. As ever, the closing seconds of the third qualifying period contained the high drama and the fairy tales.

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG, 1:14.488) held provisional pole as the key drivers set off on their hope for glory. Who could beat Rosberg’s time? Not last year’s pole sitter and defending winner, Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), who dragged his bottom lip to P10, failing to even set a time. Not Fernando Alonso (Ferrari, 1:14.948), who suffered the indignity of being only one tenth faster than teammate Felipe Massa (1:15.049).

What about F1’s latest victor? We’re told Pastor Maldonado (Williams, 1:15.245) loves this place (he probably doesn’t any more, read on below). Alas, he’s just ahead of the bottom lip. Surely the all-conquering, but yet to actually win anything this year, Lotus cars could knock Rosberg off his perch? No, best they could manage was P5, Romain Grosjean (1:14.639), and P8, Kimi Raikkonen (1:15.199). Lewis Hamilton (McLaren, 1:14.583) popped in his head on the way to P4, to say, “Hey, I’m from McLaren, remember us.”

So that left the once, and possibly returning, great Michael Schumacher and Australia’s best mate Mark Webber to fight it out. The Aussie laid the first blow, displacing Rosberg (1:14.381). Yet, as soon as the cries of “Yes!” from Australian lounge rooms had died down, Schumacher dealt the killer blow (1:14.301) to claim yet another pole at Monaco, his fourth.

Sadly for Michael his use of Bruno Senna as a braking device in Barcelona achieved nothing more than another wasted race and a five spot grid penalty for the next race. It’s not quite shades of 2006 at Monaco, but Michael will start from P6 later tonight. Which means “our Mark” starts from P1. Last time he did that in Monaco he won the race. We can dream, can’t we.

Meanwhile, Maldonado has also had his knuckles whacked by race officials for an incident with Sergio Perez (Sauber) in Qualifying 1. The revised starting grid for tonight’s race can be seen here.

Michael, Mark and Nico share their thoughts in the post-qualifying press conference after the break, with thanks to the FIA.

[Pics: Mercedes AMG Petronas & Red Bull/Getty Images]

Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Video

Can you watch this video to the end?

Post author By Liam
Post date 23 May, 2012
13 Comments on Can you watch this video to the end?

When we first saw a link to this video a day or two back we were attracted by the promise of Nico Rosberg and Mika Hakkinen driving the Monaco Grand Prix circuit in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster. A couple of F1 stars on one of motorsport’s most famous tracks; sounds like it could be okay, right?

So you can imagine our distaste when we saw what can only be described as the total shite dished up in this production. We challenge you to watch all 3 minutes and 27 seconds of it.

Worse, is the fact that Mercedes-Benz has been pushing this clip on media portals around the globe. Has anyone associated with Benz they actually watched it? Surely not, they’d be too embarrassed to admit to its existence if they had.

The only positive we can take from the footage is that the Monaco GP is on this weekend. Oh yeah!

Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2012 Spanish Grand Prix in pictures

Post author By Liam
Post date 15 May, 2012
5 Comments on 2012 Spanish Grand Prix in pictures

Here’s our smoke-free look back at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix. Did anyone outside of Williams give Maldonado a chance. Indeed, did anyone inside Williams even think a win was theirs for the taking?

Perhaps a perfect example of how open the 2012 F1 season has been so far can be seen by looking back to the Bahrain race. After qualifying the highest placed Williams was in P15; before half race distance both cars had retired. Vettel and Red Bull won in a canter.

In Barcelona, Maldonado lapped the Red Bull of Webber and wasn’t too far from repeating the dose on Vettel. It doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense. But it makes for fascinating viewing. Bring on Monte Carlo!

Audi BMW Mercedes-Benz Motorsports

DTM 2012: Round 2 (Lausitzring) in pictures

Post author By Liam
Post date 13 May, 2012

After a 20 year absence, it took BMW just two rounds to return to the top step on the DTM podium. Bruno Spengler completed a near flawless display in his M3 to claim victory in Round 2 and register BMW’s 50th win in the category.

Mercedes driver Gary Paffett followed his win in Round 1 with a second place at the Lausitzring. In third was Augsto Farfus for BMW. The highest placed Audi driver was Matthias EkstrÃ¶m back in fifth.

Paffett leads the race for DTM Champion on 43 points, ahead of Mercedes teammate Jamie Green (30) and Bruno Spengler (25). Thanks to Paffett’s good early season form Mercedes heads the Manufacturers’ championship (96) from BMW (54) and Audi (52).

The DTM field heads to Brands Hatch in England next weekend for Round 3.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake spied

Post author By Liam
Post date 11 May, 2012

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake prototype

The warmer months in Europe have clearly been embraced by the motoring world’s test engineers with another upcoming test mule captured by Pistonspy. This time it’s the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. A concept model for this car debuted in 2010 and at the time we thought it looked the goods.

Looking at this series of spy shots, though, we’re not sure if something has been lost in translation or if we just got it wrong in the first instance.

We should find out for sure later this year if it appears at the 2012 Paris Motor Show as expected.

[Source: Pistonspy]

Mercedes-Benz

Dark side of the hoon

Post author By Liam
Post date 10 May, 2012

Here in Australia the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series is all sold out. No such problems in the US, though. Which is why MB USA has put together this video reminding us all what a hoon’s delight the C63 Black really is.

Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

“We drive like on raw eggs”

Post author By Liam
Post date 9 May, 2012
2 Comments on “We drive like on raw eggs”

Like, really!

Those are the words of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher who is telling the world he thinks the 2012 spec Pirelli tyres are cabbage.

Speaking about the tyres to CNN the 43-year-old said: “I just think that they’re playing a much too big effect because they are so peaky and so special that they don’t put our cars or ourselves to the limit.

“We drive like on raw eggs and I don’t want to stress the tyres at all. Otherwise you just overdo it and you go nowhere.”

And you don’t want to overdo it because, well, burnt eggs taste like crap. You know, like sour grapes.

[Source: Autosport]

BMW Mercedes-Benz Porsche Video

Jealous, much

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 May, 2012
3 Comments on Jealous, much

Chris Harris has just filed a video that must remind him, and certainly us, what a lucky sod he is sometimes. Never mind he has awoken his own Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 from its winter slumber to take part in this three-piece fantasy; the other two cars are just as fine and just as desirable. Well, almost.

The BMW M3 GTS indulges in some ultra violence with its bright clockwork orange paintwork, while the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series is not backing away from the dark side of the force with a matt black exterior.

Look, like us, you could probably save yourself from the bother and take the RS 4.0, leave the other two behind, and just be done with it. After all, it will be the one genuinely true icon from the three cars assembled. But, life is about the journey, not the destination, and so of course we’d grab the opportunity to test all three on road and empty race track.

We doubt you’ll have your opinions altered with this video, but we think you’ll enjoy the ride. We’re just jealous we weren’t there to experience it too!

Tags 911 GT3 RS, 997 911, C63, C63 AMG Black, M3, M3 GTS

Audi BMW Mercedes-Benz Motorsports

DTM 2012: Round 1 (Hockenheim) in pictures

Post author By Liam
Post date 2 May, 2012
4 Comments on DTM 2012: Round 1 (Hockenheim) in pictures

Mercedes-Benz got off to a flying start at the opening race of the revamped DTM series in Hockenheim on the weekend, seeing their cars cross the line in first and second place.

Gary Paffett, McLaren F1 team reserve driver, won the first race of the year ahead of teammate and fellow Brit Jamie Green. Mattias EkstrÃ¶m claimed the final podium step for Audi. Andy Priaulx was the highest placed BMW in their return to DTM racing. He was in sixth place.

After the break we have assembled a nice gallery of photos from all three manufacturers; click each pic to load a 2000px super image.

There’s also a couple of videos from the first few laps of the race. The commentary is in German, but if you persist you will be rewarded for some choice comments on Ralf Schumacher’s driving skillz (language warning).

Mercedes-Benz Motor Shows

Post author By Liam
Post date 26 April, 2012

This we like. A lot.

It’s the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style CoupÃ©, remember we had an unauthorised preview last week. Now the sleek four door “coupÃ©” is strutting its stuff on the show floor in Beijing.

Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz, says the Concept Style CoupÃ© perfectly represents their new design direction. â€œIts breathtaking proportions, sinewy fluid surfaces and sculptural lines are the physical expression of our dynamic design idiom.â€

What we like about this concept is that it’s based on the new A Class. So it’s not a huge luxo-barge that will be out of reach for most consumers. Rather, with its 155kW 2.0 turbocharged four cylinder engine, 7-speed double clutch ‘box and all-wheel drive system, it’s a kind of Golf GTI/R sedan hybrid. Which means, when they make it next year, that we can expect it to be a genuinely credible proposition in its class that shouldn’t cost an outrageous fortune.

Of course, it’s not new to see a stylish and sporty sedan, but in a segment that has become a hatchback staple, the further democratisation of the four door coupÃ© style to a more affordable segment is quite refreshing.

Bravo Mercedes. Please don’t cock it up when you switch the production lines on.

Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2012 Bahrain Grand Prix in pictures

Post author By Liam
Post date 24 April, 2012
2 Comments on 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix in pictures

Finally, the Bahrain Grand Prix has been run and won. In our picture gallery we’re pleased that there’s mostly images of F1 cars doing their thing and not of local protesters causing disruptions.

After making a real effort to try and understand the root of the issues, we’re actually still not sure what to make of all the fuss in Bahrain. Was it opportunistic violence from a bunch of kids, or merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of genuine human rights concerns. While leaning towards the latter, perhaps it was a bit of both, maybe?

The biggest shame of it all is the world’s eye will probably stop keeping watch until the F1 circus is back in town next year. We hope and wish the people of Bahrain good fortune in finding more common ground with their ruling family and that it is a more peaceful environment when the sport returns.

There’s 80+ images for you after the break to help you remember the race. Of course, the first time Vettel finishes ahead of Webber this year he would have to bloody win, wouldn’t he!

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz AMG ends Ducati partnership

Post author By Liam
Post date 20 April, 2012

Now that Audi has formally taken full control of Italian superbike maker Ducati, the partnership between AMG and Ducati has been brought to an abrupt end. Well, no surprise there really.

In a brief statement AMG said:

â€œSince the end of 2010 a successful marketing cooperation has existed between AMG and Ducati. The company takeover by a rival car manufacturer has understandably resulted in the end of any further collaboration. The takeover of Ducati was never our aimâ€”our focus lies clearly in developing and producing premium performance cars and we will be concentrating all our energy on this.â€

[Source: Two Wheels]