Quote:
Originally Posted by S griffin
Schumacher was supposed to race alongside Wendlinger in the Sauber-Mercedes in 93, but by then he’d already had a contract with Benetton...
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Along with his pre F1 career, Schumacher's Benetton drive was funded by Mercedes-Benz. Hence, Schumacher only made it to F1 because of Mercedes. And the man has said so himself on several occasions.
Strange analysis going on here where a driver who has made to F1 because he has had the majority (if not all) of his junior racing career funded by Mercedes-Benz, is not considered a Mercedes junior??
The most recent drivers to make to F1 because of Mercedes support/funding were Wehrlein, Ocon, Rosberg, Hamilton and Russell. Out of that five, one is retired, one has just been released, one is looking like he may not be in F1 next year, and one is the Mercedes reserve. The other, looks like he may end up being the world champion.
So where are Mercedes going wrong?
Red Bull has had a junior team in Toro Rosso. Ferrari has had a junior team with Sauber (and to a degree, HAAS now). Mercedes has no junior team. Mercedes had a sort-of junior team for a little while with Manor, where the two of their drivers mentioned above drove in 2016. But then Manor folded, and Mercedes paid for Wehrlein and Ocon to drive for rival teams the following year.
Mercedes has no junior team, and this is their undoing when it comes to finding seats for their drivers. Mercedes has zero say in the driver line-up at Williams and Force India. They have no contractual agreement with either team - unlike Toro Rosso and Sauber has with Red Bull and Ferrari respectively.
So unless there is going to be a Mercedes 'junior' team in 2019, where Mercedes can
contractually place both Ocon and Russell into seats, I can see the Mercedes junior programme closing at the end of 2018. And all junior driver contacts torn up and/or paid out. Wolff has hinted that may well be the case.
