Will Hamilton win in 2013?

[strider]

I was at the Autosport International Show yesterday, as was Martin Brundle and he surprised me by saying on stage that he thought Hamilton would win a race in 2013. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105057

It's not something I had previously thought possible, but Brundle knows what he's talking about.

I had previously heard from elsewhere that Mercedes have decided there is no point in running a development of the 2013 car, so they are going to produce something pretty radical that will be working towards 2014. If the new ideas work, the car could be a winner. If not they will spend the season developing it for 2014, which is when they plan a big push. The engine is already up and running.

[Adam43]

I thought it was more that they moved to the 2013 car early in 2012. Unlike Red Bull who are saying the title fight compromised 2013.
Obviously the rule changes are an opportunity and they may go there early if this season doesn't start well. I guess.

[p-matt]

I think they will lack the competitiveness of the front-runners, but Hamilton will win one race.

[Marbot]

Rosberg won a race driving a Mercedes, so why not.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

I think he could win a race in 2013, but it will need something different such as safety car or a wet dry type race for him to do so.

[garcon]

Are we sure Brundle wasn't just saying what the fanboyz at the Autospout Show wanted to hear?

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by garcon

Are we sure Brundle wasn't just saying what the fanboyz at the Autospout Show wanted to hear?

Mercades will have one great weekend, like they did in 2012, and Lewis will win, just as Nico did, but it will be because Lewis is so awesome

[jedrinck]

Maybe Rosberg will win a race first, but of only as a result of a massive conspiracy.

[strider]

I don't think so. He takes the subject pretty seriously and regards himself as a heavyweight pundit rather than a crowd pleaser.

[luke g28]

Mercedes should start the season well considering their early development, thats got to be hammys best chance

[BSchneiderFan]

He will.

[paddy]

He might but I'd expect him to win more in 2014. If the car's capable of winning he's fast enough to win. Button said at the end of the season that he thought Nico might be shocked by how quick Hamilton is. I never bought into the view that he was moving for money. I expect Merc to get more competitive over the next couple of seasons and hamilton will be a frontrunner.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by strider

I was at the Autosport International Show yesterday, as was Martin Brundle and he surprised me by saying on stage that he thought Hamilton would win a race in 2013. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105057

It's not something I had previously thought possible, but Brundle knows what he's talking about.

I had previously heard from elsewhere that Mercedes have decided there is no point in running a development of the 2013 car, so they are going to produce something pretty radical that will be working towards 2014. If the new ideas work, the car could be a winner. If not they will spend the season developing it for 2014, which is when they plan a big push. The engine is already up and running.

I think Garcon is right about Brundle, Strider's serious pundit is forecasting

"Lewis has got such pace, and if Mercedes can harness that speed and give him the car, he will drag another quarter of a second per lap out of it somewhere."

So we can expect Lewis to out qualify Nico by .25 secs!

Put that in the predictions thread!

[terence]

Not a fan but I hope he does,it'll make Michaels efforts for the team worthwhile.

[GORDON STREETER]

I would put money on him to win at least one race, as has been pointed out it only needs various permutations to happen in a race and he will be there, although he might well surprise everybody and be there immediately !

[p-matt]

It will be interesting to see if Mercedes throw everything into 2014 early or not. Surely they have a good chance of "doing a Brawn" again if they start focusing on the '14 season now.

[Flat Out Farr]

If the boys at Brackley build Lewis and Nico a half decent or better car, Lewis will do an Alonso and put it higher up the grid than expected. It won't take long for Mercedes to realise that Lewis was the better option compared to MS. But that is another thread !!

So yes, I would love to see Lewis grab a win. He will get one, maybe two.
If Ross and co go radical like 2009, you never know. Who would have put money on Jenson Winning the WDC?

[strider]

That's the plan.

[Born Racer]

But I think we're reaching the era of double-focus Formula 1, in which teams will be systematically having a group of people keeping going on the current year and a load working on the next one. Now they no longer need test teams, that's possible, although I appreciate they need more crew members for the sheer volume of races.

[strider]

Yes and no. When test teams were abolished some members were absorbed into the race team, but others were made redundant. After all, it was intended as a cost saving exercise, although salaries were but a small part of it.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by strider

so they are going to produce something pretty radical that will be working towards 2014. If the new ideas work, the car could be a winner. If not they will spend the season developing it for 2014, which is when they plan a big push. The engine is already up and running.

Ever since Lewis to Mercades was announced, alot seem's to have been made of them doing something in 2014. Just wondering why people (not just on this forum i might add) think that Mercades are going to manage anything better than the other teams?

If Merc get their engine right then great, but whats to say that McLaren or Force India won't adopt the new rules better, using the Merc engine.

If they get the engine wrong, then i don't see their aero department being able to bridge the gap, as they stand at the moment.

[strider]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Even If they get the engine wrong, then i don't see their aero department being able to bridge the gap, as they stand at the moment.

That's the big question. What I was trying to say in the opening post is that Mercedes are aware of it and that's why they're throwing so much at the 2013 car because it will be a test bed for 2014. If it so happens that some of their ideas work well this year, then that will be a bonus.

Having had Martin Brundle's view on Hamilton's move, this is what Sir Jackie Stewart (aka JYS) had to say: http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ce=mostpopular

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by strider

Having had Martin Brundle's view on Hamilton's move, this is what Sir Jackie Stewart (aka JYS) had to say: http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ce=mostpopular

I agree with Jackie that if Merc don't start winning then they might leave the sport (as a manufacturer at least), that said, i've been of the belief for a few months now that Lewis doesn't have a lot to lose by going there. For me, the Mac was the best car of 2012, just not as reliable as, definately the Ferrari and also the Red Bull. McLaren seem to have problems building fast and reliable in the same season.

Just think it would be so ironic if McLaren got their act together this season, built the fastest and more importantly, a reliable car and Jenson (or worst still for Lewis) Perez, went on to win the title.

[Paradise City]

It just depends what cars are rolled out for 2013. That's a very lazy remark but I think he could snatch a race or two. I think Mclaren will be a little weaker maybe giving him an opportunity to sneak one in.

But again, maybe Red Bull will pull out a cracker and will let noone in but Ferrari from start to finish.

[dsg]

no