Mercedes denies moving to sign Vettel for 2012

Norbert Haug has denied Helmut Marko’s claim that Mercedes is making a move to sign Sebastian Vettel for 2012.

After Marko this week admitted that Ferrari is pushing hard to poach Red Bull staff, the Austrian has now told Kleine Zeitung that Mercedes is moving on the energy drink-owned team’s reigning world champion Vettel.

Asked by the newspaper who other than Ferrari is interested in the 23-year-old, motor racing consultant Vettel answered: "Mercedes for sure.”

"Knowing that Sebastian has a contract with us, Mercedes expresses quite an interest in him."

Marko confirmed that Vettel’s contract expires at the end of the year but includes an option for 2012.

"For the time after (2011), we are already talking," he revealed.

But when asked about Marko’s comments, Mercedes’ motor sport vice president Haug said the German marque has "not made Sebastian Vettel an offer".

"We have exactly the drivers we wanted in Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg," he told the German press agency DPA.

Haug however admitted it is "no secret" he has a good personal relationship with German Vettel but said it is "absolutely wrong" to make any assumptions because of that.

Multiple MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi thinks Mercedes would be right to be on the market for another driver.

At the Madonna di Campiglio ’Wrooom’ event for Ferrari and Ducati, the rider said he thinks it will be "almost impossible" for Schumacher to win again following a three-year retirement.

"Michael is still going (with his comeback) and hopes to get the results he wants," the Italian is quoted by SID news agency. "But as I said, it will be very difficult."

Source: Nextgen

Schumacher hints at car discrepancy

Michael Schumacher has hinted that his car has not always been on the same performance level as team-mate Nico Rosberg's Mercedes this season.

The seven-time world champion has endured a torrid season on his return to Formula One racing and has been consistently out-qualified and out-raced by the younger Rosberg.

And although Schumacher managed one of his better outings of the season with a sixth place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix, he indicated that there have been more problems with his car than with Rosberg's.

"The car worked great this time," Schumacher told German television channel RTL. "Unfortunately, I cannot say it has been that way at all the races.

"There have often been problems, especially on my car, in terms of the consistency, that were not always noticed from the outside. You only saw that I was slower. Both cars have not always been the same."

Mercedes' Norbert Haug did not disagree with Schumacher's claims.

"I cannot disagree with Michael. As far as the car is concerned, he is right," Haug told Bild newspaper.

Source: ESPNF1

Haug's visit to see Raikkonen fires F1 rumours

As previously reported last week... the rumours continue. Where there's smoke there's fire! (We hope!) =)

Mercedes competition director Norbert Haug recently travelled to Kimi Raikkonen's home in Switzerland.

The visit triggered rumours, reported initially by the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti, that the 2007 world champion and current world rally championship driver might be negotiating his return to Formula One.

Raikkonen's spokesman Riku Kuvaja responded by saying the situation for the 30-year-old former McLaren and Ferrari driver is "the same as before".

He would not confirm Haug's Swiss visit.

But at Silverstone on Friday, Haug himself confirmed the news but insisted their meeting was not about Raikkonen's future.

"I have been in contact with Kimi as a friend," said the German, who worked alongside Raikkonen between 2002-2006 at McLaren and was even a guest at the Finn's wedding.

As for Raikkonen's future, Haug said he has not discussed it with the rally driver. "Kimi will make a decision for himself," he said on Friday, according to MTV3.

"I do hope he comes back, because it would be a good thing for F1," added Haug.

Source: Motorsport

Kimi Räikkönen: a coveted driver

Haug informally visited kimi in Switzerland

Mercedes sports boss Norbert Haug has visited, Switzerland, informally (using the official version), Kimi Raikkonen. The 2007 world champion became a coveted man in 2011.

Linked to Red Bull, but also to Mercedes during the winter, the Finn is trying to convince that he is happy in the WRC. Far from his exploits on the F1 circuit. However both teams trying to revive the flame of the 2007 world champion.

Renault initially, which with the support of Mastercard wishes align a line-up worthy of a top team. But as Mercedes GP, which seeks to obscure the identity of its next line-up 2011. The meeting Haug - Raikkonen makes sense and is an attempt to survey, more than a firm commitment to the German mark to obtain the services of Finland. Unlike the French team which, by the voice of its owner Gerard Lopez, Raikkonen made his war-horse for the future. A demonstration that Kubica might like ...

A few days ago, Pirelli has also put in his list of options the Finnish world champion to test future gums 2011 at the wheel of a GP2 or Formula 1 old.

It seems that its agents have greatly reduced the fare for a return of their foal. In the space of one year, Raikkonen's salary rose from 45 million euros, 25 million euros, and now around 16 million euros.

Source: TomorrowNewsf1.com
Courtesy: vida