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Mercedes-Benz and Motorsports
Mercedes-Benz can rightly claim to have one of the longest running associations with Grand Prix racing than any other automobile manufacturer. After years as McLaren's engine supplier, Mercedes-Benz will now also step into the ring to fight alone this season, following their November takeover of the Brawn team.
Mercedes-Benz claims to have taken part in the very first car race, all the way back in 1894 between Paris and Rouen in France. Hence its relationship with Grand Prix racing is as old as the sport itself.
Motor racing became increasingly popular after the World War-I as cars became progressively more powerful and tracks were created, normally on closed public roads. Daimler was among the first companies to develop supercharged engines for racing. The power of these cars rapidly began to grow and by 1928 the mighty 6.8 - litre SSKL took victory at the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring with a one-two-three finish, Rudolf Caracciola taking the top step of the podium.
The Nazi regime in Germany had recognised the propaganda value that racing offered and both the Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union teams were encouraged to build the fastest and most exciting cars possible to race against each other. Hence, a new weight formula for Grand Prix racing was brought into force in 1934 which was intended to end the development of ever heavier and more powerful cars (which overwhelmed the ability of existing tyre technology to control their power), the so-called ‘750 kg’ formula.
Mercedes-Benz elegant entrant into the class, the W25, was to become one of the most famous racing cars in the world when, on the night before the first race to the new formula at the Nurburgring, the racing manager Alfred Neubauer discovered his cars were one kilogram overweight and ordered mechanics to scrape off the white paintwork, leaving exposed shining alloy. So came along the legendary ‘Silver Arrows’. Power levels continued to increase until the cars were racing with around 500 bhp and in 1935 Caracciola took both European and German championships with victories in nine out of ten races.
Those days were a period of intense, dramatic and incredibly dangerous racing. The speed and performance of racing cars was completely unmatched by any safety provisions beyond the occasional straw bale. It was a highly symbolic tragedy when, on the eve of war in 1939, Mercedes-Benz's British ace driver Richard Seaman was killed in a ghastly accident at Spa.
Mercedes-Benz claims to have taken part in the very first car race, all the way back in 1894 between Paris and Rouen in France. Hence its relationship with Grand Prix racing is as old as the sport itself.
Motor racing became increasingly popular after the World War-I as cars became progressively more powerful and tracks were created, normally on closed public roads. Daimler was among the first companies to develop supercharged engines for racing. The power of these cars rapidly began to grow and by 1928 the mighty 6.8 - litre SSKL took victory at the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring with a one-two-three finish, Rudolf Caracciola taking the top step of the podium.
The Nazi regime in Germany had recognised the propaganda value that racing offered and both the Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union teams were encouraged to build the fastest and most exciting cars possible to race against each other. Hence, a new weight formula for Grand Prix racing was brought into force in 1934 which was intended to end the development of ever heavier and more powerful cars (which overwhelmed the ability of existing tyre technology to control their power), the so-called ‘750 kg’ formula.
Mercedes-Benz elegant entrant into the class, the W25, was to become one of the most famous racing cars in the world when, on the night before the first race to the new formula at the Nurburgring, the racing manager Alfred Neubauer discovered his cars were one kilogram overweight and ordered mechanics to scrape off the white paintwork, leaving exposed shining alloy. So came along the legendary ‘Silver Arrows’. Power levels continued to increase until the cars were racing with around 500 bhp and in 1935 Caracciola took both European and German championships with victories in nine out of ten races.
Those days were a period of intense, dramatic and incredibly dangerous racing. The speed and performance of racing cars was completely unmatched by any safety provisions beyond the occasional straw bale. It was a highly symbolic tragedy when, on the eve of war in 1939, Mercedes-Benz's British ace driver Richard Seaman was killed in a ghastly accident at Spa.
Racing was suspended during the war and it took some time for Mercedes-Benz to return to the racing battlefield. It was in the 1951 race in Argentina that Neubauer re-entered the racing scene with three pre-war race cars. A full return was made to the new Formula One category in 1954 with the beautiful W196, adapted from the 300 SL sports car and powered by a fuel injected eight cylinder in-line engine. Drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling scored a commanding one-two victory in the car's very first outing at the 1954 French Grand Prix and Fangio won the World Championship. In 1955 Mercedes-Benz withdrew from motorsport following a massive accident at the 24 Hours Le Mans race when Pierre Levegh of Mercedes-Benz somersaulted into a stand at over 241 km/h after a collision and 79 spectators were killed. The company only returned to motorsport again in 1984, entering touring car and then sports car racing.
Ten years late, the German firm was back in Formula One racing as an engine supplier for Sauber in 1994, before joining forces with McLaren the following year. The Mercedes-powered McLarens gradually became the class of the field and eventually helped Mika Hakkinen to take his two Driver's titles and also bringing the Woking team the 1998 Constructor's Championship.
Mercedes-Benz was by then so embedded within McLaren that it had bought a share in the team. In terms of results, however, the partnership seemed to struggle over the next decade. And while it came close to the title on several occasions, it never quite made it until Lewis Hamilton's success in 2008. But even then, the constructor's glory fell to rival team Ferrari.
The following season opened a new chapter in the Mercedes-Benz's Formula One history when it agreed to supply engines to Force India and Brawn, as well as McLaren. Almost immediately, the dominance of the Brawn package became apparent and by the finale in Abu Dhabi the team had taken eight wins and both titles. Within a month, Mercedes-Benz had announced it would to sell back its 40 per cent shareholding in McLaren, take over Brawn for the 2010 season and rebrand the team ‘Mercedes GP’ to create their first works entry since 1955. With Mercedes pedigree and Brawn's own inimitable talent pool at its disposal, the team already looked strong on paper, but when it subsequently hired seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher they became formidable. This team may be new, but rivals know they underestimate them at their peril.
Ten years late, the German firm was back in Formula One racing as an engine supplier for Sauber in 1994, before joining forces with McLaren the following year. The Mercedes-powered McLarens gradually became the class of the field and eventually helped Mika Hakkinen to take his two Driver's titles and also bringing the Woking team the 1998 Constructor's Championship.
Mercedes-Benz was by then so embedded within McLaren that it had bought a share in the team. In terms of results, however, the partnership seemed to struggle over the next decade. And while it came close to the title on several occasions, it never quite made it until Lewis Hamilton's success in 2008. But even then, the constructor's glory fell to rival team Ferrari.
The following season opened a new chapter in the Mercedes-Benz's Formula One history when it agreed to supply engines to Force India and Brawn, as well as McLaren. Almost immediately, the dominance of the Brawn package became apparent and by the finale in Abu Dhabi the team had taken eight wins and both titles. Within a month, Mercedes-Benz had announced it would to sell back its 40 per cent shareholding in McLaren, take over Brawn for the 2010 season and rebrand the team ‘Mercedes GP’ to create their first works entry since 1955. With Mercedes pedigree and Brawn's own inimitable talent pool at its disposal, the team already looked strong on paper, but when it subsequently hired seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher they became formidable. This team may be new, but rivals know they underestimate them at their peril.
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