George Russell 
We’ve had a lot of bad luck this weekend and that is unfortunate as we were definitely in the fight for the win today. After a difficult start, we’d managed to get ourselves back to P2 but stopped just one lap before the safety car was deployed. That changed the complexion of the race and unfortunately, after taking the restart in P3, we lost two more positions as a result firstly of hitting the harvesting limit and then an unexpected superclip. It was pretty frustrating but that’s the way racing goes sometimes. It’s clear from this weekend that our competitors are beginning to optimise their cars much more now. We have enjoyed a great start to the season, but our rivals are hot on our heels as we saw today. The upcoming gap in the calendar will also give everyone a chance to develop further so we know that, once we’re back on track in Miami, we are in for a proper fight. 

Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal 
We had an exciting race today with plenty of overtaking which hasn’t always been the case here at Suzuka. It’s a new way of racing where you have to think strategically in order to both pass and then make sure it sticks. It’s a great challenge for both the drivers and the teams and it makes the race very unpredictable. Sometimes you need the luck to go your way in racing and that was the case with Kimi today. He lost positions at the start but was able to get them back with a fortunately timed safety car. Whilst that was helpful to him, his pace in the second half of the race showed what he was capable of. George was on the flip side of that equation and lost out having pitted just one lap before the safety car came out. He then lost more positions, firstly on the restart as he hit the harvesting limit and was low on 
deployment and then secondly with an unexpected superclip. He fought hard to get back to P4, but he’s certainly had more than his share of bad luck this weekend.

George Russell - Firstly, huge congratulations to Kimi on his first victory in F1. He drove a great race, and it was brilliant to be up there on the podium with him. I am sure it is a moment he will never forget and to do it with the team scoring a 1-2 is fantastic.  My own race was not straightforward. I lost positions both at the start and then at the Safety Car restart as we struggled to switch the Hard tyres on. The Ferraris were quick, particularly in the early stages, and we had to get back past them twice. They were fast in all the right places and that made our job a lot more difficult. Happily, we were able to do it each time, but it cost us the chance to fight for the win. 
It has been a great way to start the season, and we are definitely the team to beat at the moment. We have been put under a lot of pressure at these first two races, and we need to keep pushing hard. The package is strong though so I’m looking forward to heading to the next race in Japan.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO - This moment was never in doubt for Kimi. Right from his days in karting, we have known that he has all the talent necessary to develop into a Grand Prix winner. His family, along with the team, have done a brilliant job nurturing that talent and today shows that. There have been so many doubters writing him off, saying it was too early, that he doesn’t have the composure necessary, and Kimi has proven them all wrong. This is just the start for him; he will keep his feet on the ground and keep working hard but he can definitely enjoy himself this evening. 
Despite the result, it wasn’t an easy afternoon for the team. The Ferraris kept us honest and George did a good job to battle back and finish ahead of them. It was also great to see Lewis (Hamilton) up on the podium with Kimi, George, and Bono. All four of them are such a big part of this team’s history and it was brilliant to see them all up there together.  We’ve made a good start to the season but there is much work ahead. We will keep focused, keep pushing on and hopefully can continue to fight for victories as the season progresses.

Kimi Antonelli: "That was a very intense and stressful race! I am really happy to take my first podium in F1 though. The start was the key to achieving that. I managed to get track position on Piastri and that enabled us to show our pace. At moments I was able to catch Verstappen and put him under pressure. In the final stint, I think I pushed a little too hard in the early stages and that made it difficult near the end. I was able to defend from the McLarens though and bring the car home in P3. 
I want to say thank you to everyone at Brackley and Brixworth. They have been working so hard to improve the car and I am glad to be able to get a result like this and have both our cars on the podium. It is a special moment for me personally and I am looking forward to building on it in the coming races."

Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal: "That was a superb race by the team and both drivers today. George was absolutely faultless at the front. He controlled the race throughout and didn’t put a foot wrong. It was another assured performance of which we have seen many so far this season. He was quick on both compounds and didn’t come under threat after the first corner. Kimi meanwhile drove his own great race. He made a strong start and that set him up for the rest of the race. He nearly managed to get second and then battled and defended well in the closing stages to hold off the McLarens. He fully deserved to get on the podium and his first top three finish which I am sure there will be many more of. 
We’ve taken a positive forward step this weekend. The track temperature today was nearly 50°C but we managed to look after the tyres well and combine that with good pace. We know that there is more for us to do for this to be a consistent level of performance each and every race. That is what we are focused on doing though and we look forward to the upcoming races to continue that momentum."

È la terza volta dell'E-Prix di Roma, i primi due si sono svolti nel 2018 e nel 2019, e andrà in scena su un circuito cittadino modificato di 3.380 km con 19 curve che attraversano il campus dell'Esposizione Universale di Roma (EUR) Expo mondiale.

Il Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR mantiene le sue caratteristiche di mini montagne russe con una serie di cambi di pendenza e una superficie particolarmente irregolare. Allo stesso tempo, il nuovo layout della pista presenta rettilinei più lunghi e veloci, che dovrebbero offrire maggiori opportunità di sorpasso.

Ci sono un paio di differenze nel programma tra sabato e domenica. Dopo il consueto shakedown di 15 minuti di venerdì sera, sabato mattina ci saranno due sessioni di prove libere prima delle qualifiche e la prima delle due gare (ora di inizio 16:04 CEST). Domenica ci sarà un solo turno di prove libere prima delle qualifiche, con la gara che inizierà alle 13:04 CEST.

Impressioni in vista dell'E-Prix di Roma 2021

Ian James (Team Principal):

“Il fine settimana a Diriyah è stato caratterizzato da alti e bassi, con alcune prestazioni eccezionali sia dei nostri piloti che del resto del team. Il momento clou del fine settimana ovviamente è stata la prima vittoria in gara della stagione, che ci ha dato una spinta di fiducia e ci ha confermato che siamo sulla strada giusta come squadra, ma il secondo giorno di gara a Diriyah ci ha dimostrato che non possiamo dare nulla per scontato. Dopo aver atteso oltre un mese per un nuovo appuntamento della stagione, la squadra si prepara all’E-Prix di Roma, pronta ad affrontare il prossimo tracciato in calendario. La distanza temporale tra le gare ci ha dato l'opportunità di rivedere i nostri dati e prepararci per le difficili condizioni dell'E-Prix di Roma. Roma porterà nuove sfide e il tracciato è tipicamente un circuito di Formula E: sembra eccitante, è impegnativo per la macchina e ci vedrà tornare al centro di una delle più grandi città del mondo. Con il fine settimana che ora è un doppio match, dobbiamo mantenere la concentrazione e ottimizzare ogni opportunità, per ottenere il maggior numero di punti possibili. È difficile dire cosa aspettarsi dai nostri competitor, ma sarà certamente una lotta serrata! "

Nyck de Vries:

"Finalmente, un altro weekend di gara. Dall'inizio della stagione, a Diriyah, abbiamo fatto tutto il possibile per essere preparati in modo ottimale per la gara di Roma. Penso che sarà una pista diversa da quelle su cui abbiamo corso di recente. Sembra un vero circuito di Formula E, ma nel centro cittadino: la diversa qualità della superficie e i cambi di pendenza renderanno una corsa insidiosa, quindi promette di essere una gara molto intensa e impegnativa. Ovviamente speriamo di essere competitivi come lo eravamo a Diriyah. È difficile prevedere cosa faranno i nostri avversari. Sabato saremo fuori nel gruppo 1 di qualificazione, quindi penso che l'obiettivo dovrebbe essere quello di qualificarci nella Top Ten e prendere la nostra gara da lì. La cosa più importante è fare un passo alla volta e assicurarci di fare i giri e raccogliere i dati per costruire sostanzialmente il resto del nostro weekend.”

Stoffel Vandoorne:

"Sono davvero entusiasta di tornare a Roma, anche perché è passato molto tempo dall'ultima volta che abbiamo corso su un vero circuito cittadino. Ovviamente nel frattempo abbiamo avuto Berlino e Diriyah, ma hanno caratteristiche leggermente diverse dai veri circuiti cittadini come Roma. Quindi, è ancora più emozionante tornare su questo tipo di pista. Ho dei bei ricordi di Roma, dove ho conquistato il mio primo podio in Formula E, ed è una delle mie piste preferite. Tuttavia, il layout della pista quest'anno è un po 'diverso da come era nella stagione 5. È anche molto impegnativo, con una superficie molto irregolare a giudicare dall'aspetto, ma questa è la Formula E. Devi padroneggiare le sfide e una serie di circostanze difficili. Lo stesso vale per il formato del weekend. Abbiamo due giorni molto impegnativi, dove tutte le sessioni di prove libere, qualifiche e gara si svolgeranno nello stesso giorno, sia sabato che domenica. Sarà un altra sfida impegnativa, ma dopo Diriyah è bello essere di nuovo in macchina e tornare in pista. "

The factories have been a hive of activity over the winter, as team members searched for new solutions, opportunities and improvements in their hunt for performance. Long days, late nights, tough decisions and intense deadlines – the combined and collective effort of every member of the team, coming together to ensure W12 is ready to hit the track on schedule.

“Every year we reset our focus and define the right objectives,” said Toto Wolff. “That may sound simple but it’s damn hard and is probably why there are no sports teams out there with seven consecutive titles. So many things can happen and it’s very natural to get used to success, and therefore not fight as hard for it.

“But this team has not shown any of that. I see the same fire, hunger and passion now as I did the first time I walked through the doors in 2013. Every season presents a new challenge and therefore, a new goal for us to achieve. 2021 brings changes to the regulations, which could impact our competitiveness, plus the cost cap and working on the major rule changes of 2022. These challenges excite us.”

The team’s 2021 challenger is named Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance and is our first car to use the ‘E PERFORMANCE’ designation, signifying our closer alignment to the Mercedes-AMG performance division in the future. ‘E PERFORMANCE’ is the new technology label that will be used in product names and badges on all forthcoming Mercedes-AMG performance hybrid cars – which feature direct cascade technology from F1 and, in particular, the work of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth.

The team’s closer cooperation with AMG is also reflected in the new 2021 livery, with AMG branding replacing the star pattern on the engine cover which now fades to Mercedes’ traditional racing silver from the black base livery introduced in 2020. The most prominent colour remains the iconic green of Title Partner PETRONAS on the front and rear wings, nose, mirrors and halo, with the parallel green and silver stripes on the flanks of the car symbolising more than a decade of partnership between Mercedes and PETRONAS. The visual identity is completed by the burgundy of team shareholder and Principal Partner INEOS, which features on the airbox and the inside of the front wing endplates. The result is a striking and distinctive look for the season ahead.

This season also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the team following the announcement late last year that Toto, Daimler and INEOS will be one-third, equal shareholders.

A significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year by Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.

“We’re very happy to keep the most successful F1 driver of the current era in the most successful F1 team of the current era,” commented Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research, Mercedes-Benz Cars Chief Operating Officer and Non-Executive Chairman of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. “Lewis is not only an incredibly talented driver; he also works very hard for his achievements and is extremely hungry. He shares his passion for performance with the entire team which is why this collaboration has become so successful. But Lewis is also a warm-hearted personality who cares deeply about the world around him and wants to make an impact. As a company, we share this sense of responsibility and are proud to launch a new, joint foundation to improve diversity in Formula One. Opening the series to under-represented groups will be important for the sport’s development in the future and we’re determined to make an impact.”

Gara 1

La prima corsa ha visto Ferri scattare come una fionda dalla pole position, seguito come un'ombra dalla Special Car di Riccardo Azzoli. I due piloti si sono dati battaglia per tutto l'arco della gara con una miriade di sorpassi. Alla fine ad avere la meglio è stato il portacolori del team Merbag, transitato per primo sotto il traguardo mentre Azzoli ha dovuto fare i conti con la furiosa rimonta di Savoia, terzo sul podio. L'alfiere di CityCar Bari, arrivato a Misano in testa alla classifica, dopo delle qualifiche difficili ha messo sul piatto tutto il suo talento sull'asfalto bagnato di Gara 1, rimontando posizioni su posizoni fino a giocarsi il secondo posto e raddrizzando così un weekend che sembrava in salita. Giuseppe De Pasquale ha portato la sua Rstar Palermo in quarta posizione, precedendo il Campione 2019 Vittorio Ghirelli, al volante della fida Mercedes-Benz Roma.

Sesta piazza per Luigi Ferrara, molto convincente al rientro con la SportMediaset, mentre al settimo posto ha chiuso la E-Gino di Gianluca Carboni. Lorenzo Longo, grazie all'ottava posizione nella prima manche, ha assicurato l'ultima partenza dalla pole position dell'anno a Novelli 1934. La Venus di Piegiorgio Capra e la Comer Sud di Tomas Denis Calvagni hanno completato la Top10.

13esimo sotto la bandiera a scacchi con la Barbuscia, Marco Mosconi ha badato a portare a casa punti importanti per assicurarsi il titolo Challenger, vincendo la classifica riservata, davanti alla CityCar Firenze di Christian Pigionanti e la Falcar di Giuseppe Marech, giunti uno in scia dell'altro. Tra gli Junior, affermazione di Gianalberto Coldani, 16esimo con la Venus.

Gara 2

La seconda gara ha visto Longo scattare dalla pole, ma tutti gli occhi erano puntati sulla sfida campionato tra Savoia e Ferri, divisi tra loro da appena tre punti e pronti a scattare dalla terza e quarta fila sullo scheramento. Al pronti via Longo ha preso saldamente il comando delle operazioni con la Novelli 1934, mentre è stata portentosa la partenza di Savoia, che si è fiondato dalla quinta alla seconda posizione in poche curve. Il pilota della CityCar Bari è arrivato presto in coda al rivale della Novelli, ha provato l'affondo per la prima posizone ma è stato tradito dall'asfalto umido e la smart #69 è finita in testacoda. È la fine del sogno tricolore, Savoia ha tentato un recupero disperato con una gara di cuore ma ormai era troppo tardi: il titolo è andato a Ferri, partito ottavo e spettacolare vincitore in volata su Azzoli con appena 11 millesimi di secondo a separare la Merbag dalla Special Car. Sul terzo gradino del podio, al termine di una gara caparbia, è salito Gianluca Carboni con la e-Gino, che ha così festeggiato nel migliore dei modi la nascita, solo pochi giorni prima, del figlio Giulio. Longo ha terminato la gara al quarto posto davanti ad un ottimo Michele Spoldi, bravissimo a risalire dalla dodicesima alla quinta posizione sotto la bandiera a scacchi al volante della Crema Diesel.

Sesto posto per Piergiorgio Capra, al miglior risultato stagionale con la Venus, mentre Giuseppe De Pasquale è stato costretto alla rimonta dopo un contatto nelle prime fasi e ha chiuso al settimo posto una spettacolare rimonta con la fida Rstar Palermo. Ottava posizione per Vittorio Ghirelli, rallentato negli ultimissimi da un problema alla sua Mercedes-Benz Roma, mentre Marco Mosconi (Barbuscia) ha festeggiato nel migliore d metri ei modi la conquista del titolo Challenger con il nono posto assoluto e la vittoria - doppietta - di categoria, davanti alla Minimax di Antonello Casillo, che ha competato la Top10. Ottima prova anche di Gianalberto Coldani, vincitore tra gli Junior e undicesimo assoluto. Assieme a Mosconi, sono saliti sul podio Challenger anche la CityCar Firenze di Christian Pigionanti e la F3 Motors di Antonio Cannavò.

I know often we, or I say, it’s beyond my wildest dreams, but I think my whole life I secretly have dreamt as high as this. But it always felt so farfetched. I remember Michael winning those championships, and all of us drivers here are doing the best job we can, and just to get one, two or three is so hard to get. So, to get seven, is just unimaginable. But when you work with such a great group of people, and you communicate, and trust one another and listen to one another, there is just no end to what we can do together, this team and I together. And I’m so proud of what we’ve done. And them trusting me out there today like they did, that comes with experience. This year has been so tough… I haven’t gone out, I haven’t gone for dinner, I’ve just stayed in my bubble. Getting room service every day, and not really anything exciting and that’s naturally because I‘ve got a championship to fight for. I think this year I’ve sacrificed more than ever before in my whole life. That’s made it quite difficult. Making memories like this, I want to wait until I can be around my family, be around all my friends, because I want to share it with them. I feel so proud of this race today. I was thinking about moments when it went wrong before, like China 2007 when I lost the championship on worn tyres in the pit lane. All these things I’ve learned along the way, I was able to apply today, and that’s why you saw the result and the gap you did today. At the same time, I feel like I’m only just getting started, it’s really weird. I feel physically in great shape, and mentally this year has been the hardest year for many people, for millions of people. I know things always look great on here, on the big stage, but it’s no different for us athletes. And it has been a challenge I didn’t know how to get through. But with the help of great people round me, with the help of my team, Team LH, I managed to keep my head above water and focused. I’m hopeful for a better year next year. And I’d love to stay, I feel like we’ve got a lot of work to do here. I am working to push to hold ourselves accountable as a sport, to realise we’ve got to face and not ignore the human rights issues that are around in the countries that we go to, and how can we engage with those countries, and how can we empower them to really change, not 10 or 20 years from now, but now. And I want to help Formula One, I want to help Mercedes in that journey to become more sustainable. I hope to be a part of that, at least the initial phase, for a little bit longer.

Valtteri Bottas

That was a long race. Such a long day. From the first lap onwards, everything went wrong. I don’t know who it was, but someone was spinning in front of me in the first corner and I was avoiding, and then I spun as well. Then I had contact in Turn 9 and then the car wasn’t the same anymore. I struggled to stay on track. I couldn’t stay on track, the steering wheel was like this, and there was a piece missing from the front wing. It was just about surviving from then on, not good. Congratulations to Lewis as well. He deserves this title completely: he was the better one of us this year overall and seven titles is a very impressive achievement in our sport.

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG:

Huge congratulations to Lewis on this seventh World Championship – what an incredible achievement! Lewis has been a part of our Mercedes family for over 20 years now. He joined us as an incredible karting talent; today, he’s one of the best drivers of all times. Lewis keeps improving even when it might seem like there’s little left to perfect, and I’m excited to see where else his journey will take him. It’s not just Lewis’ development on track that is impressive, but also his inspiring journey off track. Lewis has become a passionate advocate for more diversity and inclusion. He has also taken tangible steps to support this important cause. As a team and as a company we stand with him. We’re proud you’re part of our family, Lewis. Thank you for seven world championships powered by Mercedes!

Toto Wolff

Today once again showed how Lewis is capable to cope with a situation that went against him in the beginning, he was the one who kept it on the road, looked after the tyres and let the race come to him. And that made the difference today, he was hungry as a lion. Driving a car on slicks at the end, with the risk of rain, he just brought it home for a 94th win in Formula One and to take the seventh title – it’s such an impressive achievement. This year has been very special because it was so difficult for everybody in the world. I hope we have been able to bring people some joy, some entertainment, and coming out on top after a race like this feels incredible. Looking at Lewis, we have such a strong relationship that has built up over our years together; the team is 100 per cent behind him, he is 100 per cent behind the team, and this was one of those days where that trust really shined, taking the win against all odds. We simply need to say congratulations to Lewis and to recognise the amazing job he is doing, setting new benchmarks in this sport. We will be flying home together, so we will have to see how we celebrate – I’m sure we will find a way!

It’s very overwhelming right now. I look at this team and think of everyone back at Brackley and Brixworth, they are the unsung heroes. They are the ones grafting away, never giving up, continuing to push, elevate and innovate. A big congratulations to the team on a hugely deserved Constructors’ title. I’m forever grateful to everyone and so, so proud to be a part of it. To come back year on year and deliver such great performance is absolutely unbelievable. 7-time champions - that's something I’m going to be able to tell my grandchildren one day. No team has ever achieved this and I feel honoured to be a part of breaking this record. A big, big thank you to the entire Mercedes family, to PETRONAS and all of our partners, because we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them. The race itself was an exhausting one, particularly with the speeds that we are experiencing around this track. I had a tricky start but extended the stint and managed to fight back to the front. It feels fantastic to clinch the title today at Imola in style with a 1-2.

Valtteri Bottas

A massive congratulations to the team on winning the Constructors’ Championship! I’m really proud to be a part of this team and thankful for everyone’s hard work and dedication. It’s well deserved and I’m really happy for everyone at the track, Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart. This team keeps pushing and raising the bar and it’s inspiring to work with such a dedicated and driven group. Obviously, it was a tough race for me today. The start was really good but then on lap two, out of Turn 7, there was some debris on the track. I didn’t have time to avoid it, so I aimed for the middle of the car, trying not to run over the debris with the tyres. But it caused some damage and got stuck on the car somehow, which made the car really tricky to drive and also cost a chunk of performance. I was trying as hard as I could to keep Max behind me and had to push over my limits, which led to some mistakes. It was a bit of an unlucky day for me after such a promising start, but it’s still good to pick up another podium and play my part in the Constructors’ title win.

Toto Wolff

This is an unbelievable moment, this afternoon feels like a culmination of everything. This has been an unusual season in so many ways and it makes me very proud that we’ve been able to achieve this. Lots of blood, sweat and tears went into this behind closed doors, a lot of people have made great sacrifices to achieve this, so a massive thank you to everyone in the team, here at the track and back at home in Brixwoth and Brackely. We have an amazing group of people that keeps pushing and raising the benchmark to new levels, but what stands out the most is the comradery in this team and the right values at the core of it. A big thanks as well to everyone at Mercedes for the continuous support and their trust in this team – when I think of the support we have in Germany, it just puts a smile on my face. Thank you as well to everyone at PETRONAS – we could not have done this without you! PETRONAS played a big role in this achievement; they’ve been with us since Day 1 and we’re very proud to represent them on the track. I don’t know where this team will go next, but I’m excited to see what the future holds for this inspiring group of people, that is still motivated and energised and wants to set the bar even higher.

First, I owe these 92 wins to the team here and back and the factory for their tremendous work. They are continuously innovating and pushing the barrier, even higher every year. It’s been such a privilege working with them and I am so grateful for all the moments. The reliability has been incredible thanks to the Mercedes team, PETRONAS and all our partners who are continuously pushing. No one is sitting back on the success, everyone is pushing and pushing and pushing. That’s the most incredible thing to be surrounded by: it inspires you, that collaboration, and there’s nothing quite like it. Today was tough. It was all about tyre temperatures today and that’s something I was able to, with the set-up, I pre-empted it. They said it was going to rain only after the race would be finished, but we got some drops at the start and going into Turn 7 there was a huge oversteer moment and then you didn’t know what was next. I really backed up massively and I should have probably defended from Valtteri, but I said to myself that I’d come by later and fortunately that’s what I was able to do. It’s an incredibly physical sport but I had a cramp in my right calf and I had to lift quite often down the straight because it was about to pull. Pretty painful, but I had to get through it because it is what it is and you can’t lift the whole lap! I could only ever have dreamed of being where I am today. I didn’t have a crystal ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with these great people. What I can tell you is that I am trying to make the most of it every single day. Everything that we do together, we are all rowing in the same direction and that’s why you’re seeing the success that we’re having. My dad is here which is amazing, my step-mum Linda is here, Roscoe too. I feel very blessed. It’s going to take some time for it to sink in. I was still pushing flat out coming across the line and I am still in race mode mentally. I can’t find the words at the moment.Valtteri Bottas

The opening lap on the race was really good, there was a bit of drizzle which made it tricky and some cars with the soft tyre had the upper hand, but I was pretty pleased to get the lead. To be honest, after that I just didn’t have the pace today, and I don’t understand why – no pace whatsoever. Of course, I tried to defend when Lewis came closer, but there was nothing I could do, like I said I don’t know where the pace was today. I was pushing hard but I couldn’t go faster. Later on in the race I was hoping to extend my first stint a bit and go for the Soft tyre at the end but I don’t think it would have made a difference to the result today. It was a tough one for me, and I will be working hard with the team to understand why, then come back stronger next weekend in Imola.

Toto Wolff

92 race wins, who would have thought that when we embarked on the project in 2013? It’s almost a surreal number of wins. It is absolute passion, energy, and everything that Lewis puts into the sport. The talent and the ability just stand out. I think what I’ve seen this year for the first time with Lewis is that he ramps up his weekends. There is a lot of reflection, a lot of learning, understanding the tyres for the race, and he was just sitting comfortably at the beginning during opening laps, then he just ramped it up and then had unbelievable pace. I think he did it a couple of times now that he was applying pressure, and he was putting Valtteri in a worse position in relation to the tyres. He’s just very good at that strategically. The opening laps were very enjoyable. It was amazing to see the McLarens when they were heating their tyres very well when they were on the Softs. You could hear the public screaming when Sainz got into the lead, so I think this is what the sport needs; I was happy for us that we were able to catch up, but I like the situation. It’s been a very good day. I’m not sure how I’m going to celebrate because we are living like hermits at the moment, but I am flying to see my wife and my son today, and I’m sure we will have a dinner with maybe a few drinks.

“Questo circuito è parte della storia della Formula 1, ed è stata una grande emozione ritrovarmi a percorrere quelle stesse traiettorie su cui vedevo sfrecciare i miei miti di quando ero giovanissimo”, ha dichiarato Valtteri Bottas al termine del giro. “Avevo già iniziato a studiare la pista con il simulatore, ma dal vivo è tutta un’altra cosa, e per questo voglio ringraziare il Presidente Uberto Selvatico Estense e tutto lo staff dell’Autodromo della magnifica accoglienza in questo meraviglioso impianto, dove non vedo l’ora di correre.”

“Non ci aspettavamo questa sorpresa”, ha dichiarato Uberto Selvatico Estense, Presidente di Formula Imola. "Ci ha fatto davvero molto piacere la visita di Valtteri, che ha in qualche modo segnato il ritorno della Formula 1 su questo storico tracciato, che è nel cuore e nelle memorie degli appassionati e che oggi ci prepariamo a far rivivere con il ritorno del Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna.”

1 maggio 1955, Brescia. Sono le 7.22. Alla freccia d'argento viene dato il segnale di partenza e si proietta giù per la rampa: Stirling Moss e il suo co-pilota Denis Jenkinson a bordo della Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S) prendono il via in una delle gare su strada più importanti ed estenuanti al mondo: la Mille Miglia. Li attendono circa 1.000 miglia di strade che attraversano l'Italia, l'equivalente di 1.597 chilometri. I loro avversari non sono solo gli altri 520 veicoli, ma soprattutto un tortuoso percorso lungo strade aperte al pubblico e l’inarrestabile lancetta dei secondi. Alla fine, l'unica cosa che conta è il tempo necessario per coprire le 1.000 miglia.

Dopo 10 ore, 7 minuti e 48 secondi, la 300 SLR d'argento con il numero ‘722’ rosso dipinto sulla carrozzeria, guidata da Stirling Moss, taglia il traguardo a Brescia. Il numero rappresentava l'orario di partenza, come di consueto nella Mille Miglia. Moss e Jenkinson stabilirono un nuovo tempo record per la gara delle mille miglia, la loro velocità media in quel giorno fu incredibile 157,65 km/h. Un record che non è stato mai battuto.

"Solo Mercedes-Benz potrebbe costruire una macchina del genere."

"È stata davvero la mia più grande vittoria", dichiarò Moss in seguito. "Nessun’altra automobile al mondo ci avrebbe dato la possibilità di raggiungere questa velocità stupefacente. Solo Mercedes-Benz poteva costruire un veicolo del genere." Spaventato? Sicuramente prima della gara, perché sapevo quanto velocemente si doveva guidare per vincere, senza sempre conoscere l'esatto percorso della strada. Ecco perché ci è voluto un co-driver affidabile come Denis Jenkinson con le sue note del roadbook scritte su una pergamena di carta.

Solo pochi anni prima, nel 1948, all'età di 19 anni, Moss prese parte alla sua prima gara e finì quarto. Aveva una passione per il Motorsport scritta nel DNA: suo padre, Alfred Moss, che era un dentista di professione, e la madre, Aileen, erano già attivi nel Motorsport negli anni '20 e '30. Insieme alla sorella, Pat, parteciparono con successo a raduni e gare di auto sportive negli anni '50 e '60. La sua seconda gara a Brighton ha visto Stirling Moss direttamente in cima al podio. Nel suo primo anno di gare, ha disputato un totale di 15 gare, totalizzando dodici vittorie.

Questo è stato il trampolino che ha lanciato Moss ad una carriera internazionale, consacrata con il successo del 1955 con team Mercedes-Benz, dopo diversi risultati in carriera. Il suo impegno ha coperto tutti i principali eventi di Formula 1 e il Campionato del Mondo di auto sportive, guidando vere leggende della storia del Motorsport come la W 196 R Grand Prix e la 300 SLR (W 196 S). Chiuse la stagione come secondo classificato in Formula 1 dietro a Juan Manuel Fangio. Ha anche segnato punti decisivi per la vittoria nel Campionato del Mondo di auto sportive, che Mercedes-Benz ha conquistato nel 1955 insieme al Campionato del Mondo di Formula Uno. I suoi successi nel 1955:

· Mille Miglia: 1° posto

· Evento internazionale "Eifelrennen" sul Norburgring: 2° posto

· Gran Premio di Gran Bretagna: 1° posto e sua prima vittoria in Formula 1

· Gran Premio di Svezia: 2° posto

· Gran Premio del Belgio: 2° posto

· Gran Premio d'Olanda: 2° posto

· Tourist Trophy a Dundrod, Irlanda del Nord: 1° posto

· Targa Florio: 1° posto

Moss aveva una grande voglia di vincere. Ha detto che è sempre stato stimolato da un pensiero in particolare: "Oggi è il giorno della gara, oggi rischierò la mia vita." Chiedeva sempre tutto dal veicolo – a volte tagliava il traguardo in un'auto gravemente malconcia, ma al primo posto.

Quando Mercedes-Benz si ritirò dal Motorsport dopo la stagione 1955, venne offerto a Moss un volante da pilota da parte di tutti i principali marchi automobilistici. Negli anni successivi guidò per vari marchi, come Vanwall, Cooper, Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lotus e B.R.M, confermando stagione dopo stagione il suo talento di pilota di classe mondiale. Se è pur vero che non ha mai vinto il Campionato del Mondo di Formula 1, si è assicurato il titolo di Vice Campione del Mondo - come aveva fatto con Mercedes-Benz nel 1955: Nel 1956 e 1957, di nuovo secondo dietro a Juan Manuel Fangio e, nel 1958, dietro al collega britannico Mike Hawthorn. Negli anni dal 1959 al 1961, ottenne il 3° posto nel Campionato Piloti.

Il 1962 si rivelò un anno che cambiò la sua vita. Moss era sotto contratto come driver in Lotus. Il 30 aprile partecipò a una gara nazionale di Formula 1, le 100 Miglia di Goodwood. Al 35° giro su 42 in totale, a causa di circostanze mai completamente chiarite, è uscito di pista ad alta velocità schiantando la sua monoposto contro un terrapieno e riportando lesioni estremamente gravi. Anche se si riprese, circa un anno dopo l'incidente, Moss decise di abbandonare gli sport motoristici: le sue reazioni fisiche non erano più le stesse e le sue prestazioni decisamente inferiori. "Se non sei in grado di guidare in modo rapido e sicuro, dovresti fermarti, anche se solo per considerazione per i tuoi concorrenti", dichiarò.

Un'impressionante storia di successo generale

La lista dei successi di Stirling Moss è davvero impressionante: corse al volante di ben 84 diversi modelli di vetture, prendendo parte a non meno di 495 eventi motoristici, tagliando il traguardo di ben 366 gare e vincendone 222. Un palmares che conferma che Moss come è stato uno dei migliori piloti del suo tempo. Per i suoi servizi, la regina Elisabetta II lo onorò con "The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire" (OBE) nel 1959. Nel 2000, Moss è stato anche nominato Cavaliere Bachelor, il che significa che aveva il diritto di chiamarsi Sir Stirling.

Moss è stato anche considerato un pioniere della professionalizzazione nel Motorsport: già nel 1949, impegnò un manager per gestire i suoi affari. Si trattava di un approccio completamente nuovo perché, in questo periodo, la maggior parte dei piloti si prendeva cura dei propri impegni e negoziava i propri ingaggi. Dalla metà degli anni '60 in poi, quasi nessun pilota avrebbe più fatto a meno di un manager. I team di corsa hanno anche lavorato in modo diverso da prima ed erano molto più strettamente coinvolti con i partner di marketing.

Dopo la fine del suo periodo di gare, Moss ha continuato a prendere parte attiva nel Motorsport ed è stato un partecipante frequente in competizioni storiche e eventi di rally. Ha più volte ripreso il volante della 300 SLR su cui vinse la Mille Miglia e che oggi è uno dei veicoli più affascinanti della collezione Mercedes-Benz Classic. Proprio a bordo di questa vettura sportiva con numero partenza 722, Moss ha celebrato, nel 2015, 60 anni dal suo eccezionale trionfo, tornando in Italia, sulle strade della Mille Miglia storica. In quell'occasione, offrì uno sguardo retrospettivo su una vita che era stata toccante e movimentata, riassunta con queste parole: "Sono sempre stato orgoglioso di far parte della famiglia Mercedes-Benz."

First of all huge congratulations to Lewis – six championships is an impressive achievement! He had a strong season and he deserves the title, he was better overall. Lewis is a tough opponent, he has very few weaknesses, makes almost no mistakes and drives very consistently. But I’ve been gaining some good momentum, so I’m looking forward to another close fight with him next year. It’s been a really good weekend for me and the team. I struggled at this track in previous years, so it was great to cross the line in first place. It was not an easy race; I had a strong start and a good first stint, but we had to switch to a two-stop to cover Max and I was a bit worried that Lewis on the one-stop might be on the better strategy. It was a proper fight and quite a bit of fun; I had to really push, but my pace was strong and I managed to catch Lewis towards the end. We had a good battle on track and I passed him to secure the win. It feels really good to win the race like that when you have to really fight for it.

Lewis Hamilton

It’s hard to explain what I’m feeling right now, to be honest. Cloud nine doesn’t even get close, it’s somewhere far above that. It’s been the hardest year I can remember; it’s been so challenging, going through the ups and downs, so right now I’m just so full of emotion, it’s overwhelming. I feel truly humbled, and really, really grateful to everyone back at the factories, the entire Daimler family and everyone at PETRONAS – everyone who has worked so hard to enable us to do what we do and achieve this. It’s such a privilege and honour to work for this team, to be able to go out there and have the platform to put in performances like today. And Niki, I miss him so much. Today, he’d have taken his cap off. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without Niki, he’s here with us in spirit. I saw my parents right after the race and seeing my dad’s smile, it says it all. My family have supported me since day one, they worked so hard for me to be here today. I’m so glad they could all come out here, together. Yesterday was a difficult day and today I just wanted to recover and deliver a one-two for the team. Valtteri did a fantastic job, so huge congratulations to him.

Toto Wolff

I’m so proud of everyone – what an incredible achievement! There’s a massive amount of work behind the scenes to secure a result like this, where one driver claims the Championship and the other one wins the race. A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to this – here at the track, back at home in Brackley and Brixworth, at Daimler in Stuttgart and at PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur. Taking his sixth drivers’ title is a truly remarkable and special achievement. You can see how motivated Lewis still is, he wants to win every race and get the best result possible. It’s not been an easy year, with tough competition and the loss of Niki. I’d like to think Niki’s looking down on us, tipping his cap after today’s result. Valtteri drove an absolutely faultless race today, he has been on incredible form all weekend and he thoroughly deserved the victory. Lewis fought back in style and put in a great drive to go from P5 to P2.

Occupying the two Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 cockpits will be ex-Formula 1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne and current FIA Formula 2 championship leader Nyck de Vries.

“In Stoffel and Nyck, we have recruited two formidable and adaptable drivers who can continue to learn and grow with us in our debut season in Formula E,” says Ian James, Team Principal of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team. “At Mercedes-Benz, we can look back on 125 years in motor racing. However, we know that Formula E is very different from any other series we have ever competed in. We are doing everything we can to achieve success, but we know that we have a steep learning curve ahead of us.”

In its debut season, the team will draw on the knowledge and combined motorsport expertise of the Mercedes family. At the heart of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 is the electric powertrain which has been designed and developed at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) in Brixworth, UK which is the Daimler Group’s global centre of excellence for high-performance hybrid technology. Brixworth also continue to develop the hybrid power units with which Mercedes has achieved the Formula 1 championship double in each of the past five years.

Responsibility for managing the cars on race weekends has been assigned to HWA AG, the Affalterbach-based motorsport specialist which has already gained a wealth of experience in Formula E last season with its own team HWA RACELAB. The Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team also receives support from the reigning Formula 1 constructors champions, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, at Brackley.

“The collaboration between Affalterbach, Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart is going to be hugely important,” adds Ian James, who was officially introduced as Team Principal at the IAA in Frankfurt. “Fortunately for us, the experts who develop our Formula E powertrain have already accumulated a great deal of experience with Formula 1 hybrid power units. This knowledge transfer is helping us immensely, but Formula E is a completely different challenge, and we shouldn’t underestimate that fact.”

The drivers: Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries

In its line-up of Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries for the debut season, the team has recruited a driver with prior Formula E experience and a highly promising young talent.

After his rookie year with HWA RACELAB, Stoffel is about to embark on his second season in the electric racing series. At the same time, he can look back on experience gained in 41 Formula 1 Grands Prix. “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Mercedes,” says Stoffel. “I’ve already gained experience of the series racing for HWA last year. I am very pleased to have now become an official member of the Mercedes family. The arrival of Mercedes on the scene is a great opportunity for all of us. The car looks fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve as a team. The potential is huge, and I simply can’t wait to get started.”

Nyck is about to commence his debut season in Formula E. With four races still remaining in the 2019 FIA ​​Formula 2 Championship, he currently leads the drivers’ standings. The final round is scheduled to take place as part of the support programme to the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi one week after Nyck’s Formula E debut.

“It’s a very special feeling to be asked to drive for Mercedes-Benz EQ in Formula E, and I am honoured that the team have chosen me as one of their two drivers,” says Nyck. “Formula E is a great platform that has already established itself as one of the biggest and most professional racing series outside Formula 1. It’s a great opportunity, for which I’m really grateful to Mercedes. I’ve had an excellent reception from the team, and it’s great fun to work with them. But ultimately, it will all depend on the performance on the race track once the season starts. It’s all pretty new to me. That’s why I honestly haven’t thought about setting myself any targets for my rookie season. Essentially, Mercedes are aiming to be contenders for race wins and championship trophies. Hopefully, this will happen sooner rather than later. But until then, the team and I expect a steep learning curve before we can become truly competitive.”

Nyck has known his new team-mate for many years, having spent time together in karting. “The motorsport family is quite small, and you get to know each other at a young age,” says Nyck. “I’m looking forward to driving for the same team as Stoffel. He has a lot of experience and is a great driver. Consequently, I’m hoping to learn a lot from him so that, together, we can get the best possible result for the team.”

The car: A racing car for a new era

New racing series, new challenge, new racing car: Curtain up for the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01!

In early March of this year, the first all-electric Mercedes racing car saw the light of day at the International Motor Show in Geneva, decked out for the occasion in a special ‘teaser livery’. Later that month, the car went for its first track outing at Varano in Italy. Further test drives took place over the next few months in Italy and Mallorca.

The Gen2 racing car deployed in Formula E has a design that is unique in motorsport. While all teams use a standard-issue chassis, they can still demonstrate their technical expertise in the development of the powertrain. The teams are therefore permitted to develop certain components – inverter, motor, transmission, parts of the rear axle and the software for energy management – to their own design.

Stoffel already knows the car from the test sessions at Varano and in Mallorca: “We made solid progress, and everything went smoothly. After the first functional tests, it’s been fascinating to gradually start working on all the different areas.”

Nyck has also driven the Gen2 car in the past, so it will not be completely uncharted territory for him when he begins his first competitive outing: “But the Formula E car is very different from anything else I’ve driven so far. It is a very big challenge, and the level of competition is extremely high. There are a lot of capable and well-regarded drivers in the championship. The cars are relatively similar, but there is much more freedom than in a championship like Formula 2, all of which makes it an incredibly exciting race series.”

Until the race debut of the new Silver Arrow 01 in the season opener in Ad Diriyah at the end of November, the team is going to be kept very busy. “The time just seems to fly by, and there is still a lot of work to do,” adds Stoffel. “We have only a few days left until the season opener in Saudi Arabia, which is approaching fast. It’s going to be a big challenge, but I’m looking forward to it with confidence.”

“The motorsports world has lost its greatest fighter. The Mercedes family has lost an amazing mentor. And I have lost a true friend. Thanks Niki!” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Ola Källenius, CEO elect of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, added: “We are mourning the loss of a very special person who showed terrific fighting spirit. Niki Lauda achieved enormous success and had a huge impact on motor racing. He was an exceptionally talented racing driver and a real inspiration as a businessman. His family are in our thoughts at this sad time.”

In 2012, Niki Lauda was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. While exercising this role, Niki won both the drivers’ and constructors’ Formula One World Championships with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport five times in a row between 2014 and 2018.

“Niki will always remain one of the greatest legends of our sport - he combined heroism, humanity and honesty inside and outside the cockpit,“ said Toto Wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. “Niki, you are quite simply irreplaceable, there will never be another like you. It was our honour to call you our Chairman - and my privilege to call you my friend.”

Mercedes-Benz, Global Automotive Partner della 1000 Miglia parteciperà con diverse 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ (W 198) della collezione Mercedes-Benz Classic. Ideali ambasciatrici dei successi nelle competizioni degli anni '50 e la vittoria di categoria della 300 SL "Gullwing" nella 1000 Miglia del 1955.

Oltre ad Hans Herrmann, tra i protagonisti di questa edizione Ellen Lohr e Bernd Mayländer. Quest'anno Ellen Lohr sarà in team con la giovane Sophia Flörsch, attualmente una delle top driver tedesche di maggior successo. Nel 2018 ha partecipato al FIA F3 European Championship; nel 2019 prenderà parte alla sua prima stagione completa nel Formula Regional European Championship. Alla 1000 Miglia il team femminile guiderà una 300 SL.

Bernd Mayländer, al volante di una 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ sarà, invece, in gara insieme a Michael Diamond, meglio conosciuto come Mike D. dei ‘Beastie Boys’, che non ha mai celato la sua grande passione per le vetture di Affalterbach. Lo stilista, collezionista di auto sportive e autore Magnus Walker guiderà un’altra ‘Gullwing’ attraverso l'Italia. Nel 2018, Walker ha già partecipato al Silvretta Classic Rallye, scoprendo il piacere di guidare una ‘Ali di Gabbiano’.

Tra gli eventi che arricchiscono il programma della 1000 Miglia, una nuova edizione del Mercedes-Benz 1000 Miglia Challenge 2019, che vedrà i partecipanti, provenienti da nove paesi con circa 40 supercar, sfidarsi sullo stesso percorso delle vetture d’epoca. Sono ammesse a questa ‘gara nella gara’ le Mercedes-Benz SL di differenti generazioni, le sportive firmate Mercedes-AMG e modelli di particolare rilevanza storica.

Inoltre, quest’anno, in occasione dell’esposizione Motorsport oggi, la 1000 Miglia ha riunito a Brescia le moderne protagoniste del mortorsport. Si potranno ammirare la Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+, insieme alle monoposto di Ferrari e Alfa Romeo. Mercedes-AMG esporrà anche una delle ‘Stelle’ coinvolte nel campionato GT4.

Assoluta protagonista del ‘parc fermé’ di Brescia una 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ del 1954 che fa parte dell’offerta ALL TIME STARS di Mercedes-Benz Classic. Sogno degli appassionati di tutto il mondo, l’esemplare proposto è dei primi mesi di produzione, con le lance imbullonate sul parafango e ventilazione interna. La livrea è nel classico grigio argento (DB 180) e il rivestimento sedili in blu a quadretti. Il veicolo, di proprietà di Daimler AG dal 1990, ha un pass FIA ed è quindi idoneo a partecipare ad eventi di alto livello come la 1000 Miglia. Dopo un ampio restauro parziale si presenta in una condizione visivamente nuova. Ulteriori informazioni su http://mb4.me/W198

La storia della 1000 Miglia

Tra il 1927 e il 1957, la gara su strada originale si allunga su oltre 1.000 miglia da Brescia a Roma e ritorno. Nel 1977 si è tenuta la prima gara di regolarità con auto d'epoca. Sono ammessi solo i veicoli i cui modelli erano già presenti alla gara storica. Ogni anno, più di 400 classici, molti dei quali con ldella Stella danno vita ad un affascinante museo su quattro ruote. Quest'anno il percorso la partenza il 15 maggio a Brescia, il pernotto a Cervia Milano Marittima e l’arrivo a Roma, la sera del 16 maggio. Il terzo giorno (17 maggio), nella città di Vinci, sulla strada per Bologna, si renderà omaggio al genio di Leonardo da Vinci, di cui proprio quest'anno ricorre il 500° anniversario della morte. La gara si concluderà il 18 maggio a Brescia.

Le Stelle Mercedes-Benz Classic alla 1000 Miglia 2019

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S, 1955)

La 300 SLR (W 196 S) è stata sviluppata da Mercedes-Benz per il campionato mondiale del 1955 partendo dall'auto da corsa da Formula 1, la W 196 R. Oltre alla carrozzeria biposto, la differenza principale è nel motore: l'auto da corsa non è obbligata al rispetto del limite di cilindrata del regolamento di Formula 1 ed è dotata di una versione da tre litri dell’otto cilindri in linea. Inoltre viene alimentata non con carburante speciale per corse, ma con normale benzina super. Il suo elevato potenziale di potenza, robustezza e affidabilità rendono la 300 SLR di gran lunga superiore alle sue rivali del 1955: cosa che viene dimostrata dalla doppia vittoria nella Mille Miglia, nella corsa dell’Eifel, nel Gran Premio di Svezia e nella Targa Florio (Sicilia), nonché con la triplice vittoria nel Tourist Trophy in Irlanda e infine con la vittoria nel Campionato Mondiale delle auto sportive.

Dati tecnici dell'autovettura da competizione Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S)Serie: 1955Cilindri: 8 in lineaCilindrata: 2.982 cm³Potenza: 222 kW (302 CV)Velocità massima: fino a 300 km/h

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Ali di gabbiano’ (W 198, 1954-1957)

Nel febbraio 1954 la vettura sportiva di serie 300 SL (W 198) fa il suo debutto all'International Motor Sport Show di New York. Per la presenza delle caratteristiche porte incernierate sopra il tetto il coupé viene anche definito “Gullwing” (Ali di gabbiano) o “Papillon” (Farfalla). La sportiva ad alte prestazioni si basa sul leggendario modello da competizione 300 SL (W 194) della stagione 1952 ed è la prima auto di serie ad essere dotata di motore a quattro tempi e iniezione di benzina. Con una potenza del motore di 158 kW (215 CV) – oltre il 25% in più rispetto alla versione da gara del 1952 dotata di carburatore – e una velocità massima di 250 km/h, la W 198 figura tra le più importanti vetture sportive di serie della sua epoca, votata quindi all'impiego nel Motorsport. Leggendaria resta la triplice vittoria conseguita dalla 300 SL “Ali di gabbiano” nella sua classe alla Mille Miglia del 1955. A bordo dell'auto con numero di partenza 417 (che sta per l'ora della partenza, 4:17), John Cooper Fitch e il copilota Kurt Gessl si aggiudicano il quinto posto nella classifica generale e il primo posto nella classe delle vetture sportive di serie con cilindrata superiore a 1,3 litri, seguiti da altre due “Ali di gabbiano”. Dal 1954 al 1957 la 300 SL “Ali di gabbiano” viene prodotta in 1.400 esemplari, di cui ben 867 nel 1955, anno della vittoria alla Mille Miglia.

Dati tecnici di Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Ali di gabbiano”

Periodo di produzione: 1954-1957

Cilindri: 6 in lineaCilindrata: 2.996 cm3

Potenza: 158 kW (215 CV)

Velocità massima: fino a 250 km/h

Gli ambasciatori di Mercedes-Benz Classic alla1000 Miglia 2019

Hans Herrmann

Nato il 23 febbraio 1928 a Stoccarda, Germania

La stagione 1955 potrebbe essere il grande anno per il giovane pilota Hans Herrmann nel reparto corse Mercedes-Benz. Ha senz'altro del talento. Già al debutto della nuova Mercedes-Benz W 196 al Gran Premio di Francia a Reims il 4 luglio 1954, il giovane pilota si è posto come nuovo punto di riferimento segnando il miglior tempo in gara. Ma nel 1955, la sfortuna si era insediata nella plancia del pilota di Stoccarda. In un incidente nel corso di un allenamento prima del Gran Premio di Monte Carlo a Monaco, Herrmann rimane gravemente ferito e non può più partecipare a questa stagione. Il diplomato pasticcere ha iniziato la sua carriera agonistica nel 1952 durante il viaggio invernale nell'Assia su una Porsche 356 privata. Sempre nello stesso anno vince una vittoria di classe al German Tour. Nel 1953 e 1954 Herrmann conquista una vittoria di classe con la Porsche alla Mille Miglia. Il direttore di gara Mercedes-Benz Alfred Neubauer lo nota e nel 1954 lo porta nel nuovo team di Formula 1 come giovane pilota. Nel corso della sua carriera, Hans Herrmann ha dimostrato di essere un pilota estremamente versatile nei Gran Premi di Formula 1 e Formula 2, nelle gare di auto sportive e nei rally. Oltre alle auto Mercedes-Benz, gareggia in particolare con le auto da competizione e quelle sportive di Porsche. Seguiranno incarichi con le auto da corsa B.R.M., Cooper, Maserati e Veritas. I suoi successi maggiori Herrmann li ha ottenuti nelle competizioni di lunga durata in pista. Tra queste, le vittorie nella Targa Florio (1960), la 24 Ore di Daytona (1968) e la 24 Ore di Le Mans (1970). Si distingue anche per il secondo posto su Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) nel Gran Premio di Argentina del 1961. Per le sue otto partecipazioni alla Targa Florio, Herrmann viene premiato nel 2012 dalla città di Collesano attraversata dal circuito. Alla manifestazione, l'ex pilota arriva alla guida di una Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. Hans Herrmann ha coronato la sua carriera agonistica nel 1970 con la vittoria di Le Mans e nello stesso anno si è ritirato dal motorsport attivo. In qualità di promotore del marchio Mercedes-Benz Classic, è ancora oggi strettamente legato all'azienda e agli sport motoristici. Herrmann ha festeggiato il suo 90esimo compleanno nel 2018 presso il Mercedes-Benz Classic Center di Fellbach. Tra gli oratori c'era il Presidente del Consiglio Direttivo di Daimler Dott. Dieter Zetsche.

Ellen Lohr

Nata il 12 aprile 1965 a Mönchengladbach, Germania

Ellen Lohr si è accostata al Motorsport iniziando a guidare i kart dal 1979 al 1983. I suoi più grandi successi sono la sua partecipazione al Campionato del Mondo Junior di Karting e il suo primo posto nel Campionato Regionale Karting della Germania nord-occidentale. Dopo aver gareggiato nella Formula Ford 1600 tedesca (è stata campionessa tedesca nel 1987) le prime gare nel DTM (BMW) e nel Campionato Tedesco di Formula 3 con Volkswagen nel 1989/90, viene ingaggiata dal team AMG-Mercedes per il Campionato Tedesco Turismo (DTM). Ellen Lohr è stata la prima e finora unica donna a conquistare una vittoria DTM: Il 24 maggio 1992 vince la prima gara dell'Hockenheim Motorsport Festival su una Mercedes AMG 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. Nella stagione 1995 decide di passare al team Mercedes-Zakspeed, mentre nel 1996 gareggia per il team AMG-Mercedes Persson MS. Nel 1997 inizia il Campionato Europeo Truck Racing al volante di un truck da competizione Mercedes-Benz. Successivamente Lohr prende parte a numerose altre competizioni, compresi il rally Parigi-Dakar dal 2005 e nuovamente il Truck Racing dal 2012. Nel 2019 la pilota è al via nella Nascar Whelen Euro Series.

Bernd Mayländer

Nato il 29 maggio 1971 a Waiblingen, Germania

Nella Formula 1 Bernd Mayländer sta sempre davanti a tutti. Nato a Waiblingen nel 1971, dal 2000 in qualità di pilota ufficiale guida la safety car di Formula 1 fornita dalla Mercedes-AMG - attualmente una Mercedes-AMG GT R (consumo combinato di carburante: 12,4 l/100 km; emissioni di CO₂ in ciclo combinato: 284 g/km*). Mayländer inizia la sua carriera da pilota nel 1990, dapprima prendendo parte ai campionati Porsche Clubsport, Porsche Carrera Cup (vittoria assoluta nel 1994), Porsche Supercup e a diverse gare di durata. Dal 1995 gareggia per il team Persson Motorsport, in un primo tempo nel Campionato Tedesco Turismo (DTM) e nell'International Touring Car Championship (ITC), mentre dal 1997 in avanti partecipa al Campionato FIA GT al volante di una Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, con la quale vince la gara di Spielberg nel 1997 insieme a Klaus Ludwig e Bernd Schneider. Nel 2000 si aggiudica la “24 Ore del Nürburgring”, guidando una Porsche 996 GT3. Nel 2004 Bernd Mayländer corre la sua ultima stagione nel DTM al volante di una Mercedes-Benz Classe C come pilota del team Rosberg.

* I valori indicati sono stato rilevati in base al procedimento di misurazione prescritto. Si tratta di valori CO₂ della NEDC ai sensi dell'art. 2 n° 1 del Regolamento di esecuzione (UE) 2017/1153. I valori di consumo del carburante sono stati calcolati sulla base di questi valori.

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This feels so good – I don’t think I’ve ever had a race like this! We could not have asked for a better start to the season – getting maximum points for the team is a perfect result and we couldn’t be happier. It’s also an important result for me personally, I’m really pleased with how the race went. These things don’t just happen – both the team and I have worked hard for this and it seems like the hard work paid off today. The key was the start; I think Lewis may have had a bit of wheel spin, so I was able to take the lead. My race pace was really strong, I could pull away and build a gap. In the end, I managed to get the fastest lap as well, which of course means an extra point this season, so I went for it. It can be a little risky with worn tyres, but I had it all under control. I’m very, very pleased with today, but it’s only the first race and we have another 20 races to go.

Lewis Hamilton

It was an incredible weekend for the team, we’re leaving Melbourne with maximum points. Valtteri did an exceptional job today – congratulations to him. I had a pretty straightforward race today; I lost position at the start and my race was pretty much done and dusted after the first corner. Afterwards it was really about bringing the car home and bagging the points. I had to pit early to cover the pit stop from Ferrari, so I had a long second stint and drove super carefully to make sure I had tyres left at the end of the race. I’ll bag the eighteen points I got today, keep working and come back recharged for the next one. It was a really great weekend for the team and I’m really happy for everyone. We showed a great performance today and we need to continue to build on this – we have a long season ahead of us.

Toto Wolff

That was a great day and an awesome drive for Valtteri – a perfect rebound after how last season finished. Over the winter, he recharged the batteries, reset, found his joy of driving again with the rally in Finland – then today it all came together for him. I can see again the young boy I first met over ten years ago and who dominated the junior series in 2008; it was a strong comeback and a really well earned win today. For Lewis, it was a harder afternoon – the start was not as good as Valtteri, then we had to pit him earlier than ideal to cover the risk of being undercut by Vettel. That gave him a long stint on the tyres and none of us knew if they would make it to the end, so it was hard to judge the right pace and he wasn’t happy with the car balance; my feeling is that it can be tricky to find the sweet spot with these new cars and tyres, and probably we didn’t manage that today with Lewis. Overall, though, a fantastic day for the team and a perfect result in the opening race – including the point for fastest lap. I know we have a very big supporter who is in Vienna now and not here with us in Melbourne – to you, Niki, we send all our best wishes and we hope you’re happy with this one. But this feeling will only last as long as we stay at the circuit; when the plane takes off for home, our eyes will turn to Bahrain. We know that Ferrari have the speed to fight back, so we won’t be jumping to any conclusions after just one race. We have a long season ahead full of twists and turns and challenges; we’re looking forward to the fight.

The EQ Silver Arrow 01 will be on public display between 7 and 17 March 2019 at the trade show. The car has been given a special ‘teaser livery’ which gives an idea of the team’s Formula E campaign to come. The definitive design will be presented at a later stage ahead of the season opener.

“The Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 teaser car gives a foretaste of the first all-electric Silver Arrow from Mercedes-Benz,” says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG. “Blue accents and the subtle contrast between matt and gloss in conjunction with the star pattern at the rear of the vehicle stage the progressive luxury in electric motorsport.”

On the side of the vehicle, running all the way from the front to the rear, is a horizontal blue line symbolising the EQ brand. At the same time, it serves as a colour contrast similar to the PETRONAS green on the Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ in Formula 1. The lines help to optimise visual proportionality. At the rear of the vehicle there is a star motif for both the Formula 1 car and the Formula E teaser version. This subtly conveys the high-value Mercedes-Benz brand.

Challenge accepted: Formula E as new arena

With its innovative and complex technology, Formula E represents a whole new world of racing, in which newcomers face multiple challenges. This first public appearance of the new car in Geneva therefore constitutes an important milestone on the way to the team’s Formula One E debut.

“The countdown to our entry into Formula E has now officially begun,” says Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Toto Wolff. “Our team has obviously been working behind the scenes on this project for quite a while now, but when you see the car in our teaser livery for the first time, you know that the project has entered a serious phase.”

However, the team still has a lot of work to do before the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 contests its first race towards the end of the year. “Formula E is going to be a completely new playing field for us,” adds Toto Wolff. “But we are looking forward to the challenge of demonstrating the performance of our intelligent battery-electric drives in motorsport and of giving a positive boost to the EQ brand.”

Parallel commitment consolidates technology transfer within the Mercedes family

When the sixth season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship gets underway, Mercedes will be opening a new chapter in the long and successful racing history of the brand. At the start of its debut season in 2019/20, the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team will be entering not one but two all-electric racing cars.

The brand with the three-pointed star will thus become the only automobile manufacturer in the world to compete in both Formula 1 and Formula E. The parallel commitment to the two racing series will enable Mercedes to transfer the lessons learned in both arenas to the road. The two platforms taken together constitute an important technology driver for the entire Mercedes family and will help to shape the future of the automobile industry.

Technical Specifications: Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01

Further information on Mercedes-benz.com/EQ-FormulaE-Media and Mercedes-benz.com/EQ-FormulaE.

“The 2019 season will be a new challenge for all of us,” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO. “The regulations have changed quite substantially. We have to start from scratch, we need to prove ourselves again – against our own expectations and against our competitors. We start the season with zero points, so we’re taking nothing for granted and there’s absolutely no feeling of entitlement to be at the front. In fact, with the regulation change for the new season, every team can have a shot at the title and we’r e seeing all of them as a potential threat.”

Today’s running constitutes an official 100 km filming day, which the team also uses as a final systems check before the first pre-season test in Barcelona.

“We’re eager to hit the ground running in Barcelona, to benchmark ourselves against our own simulations and see if our predictions materialise on track,” said Toto. “We will focus on ourselves, building up performance and hopefully be ready when the first really competitive session starts on Saturday in Melbourne.”& amp; lt; /p>

New aero regulations drive significant changes to the W10

Compared to its predecessor, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power+ has been changed substantially. The majority of those modifications were driven by the significant changes to the Technical Regulations for the 2019 Formula One season.

“Regulation changes are both opportunity and threat,” said Technical Director James Allison. “They are an opportunity because all the old assumptions about what you need to have to be quick are swept away and, if you are fleet of foot and smart in dealing with that, you can do better than all the other teams that are tackling the same change. They are a threat because if you are not as smart and you didn’t see how to make the most of these new regulations, then you’ll certainly suffer in the coming season. But they are always exhilarating because you have that sharp sense of anxiety that you might not be doing enough but equally the thrill and excitement of looking forward to finding out.”

In addition to dealing with the changes to the aerodynamic regulations, which were the main focus in the development of the W10, the team worked hard to improve the weaker areas of the previous car and further build on its strengths.

“The handling of the W09 was a big improvement over the rather idiosyncratic W08,” said James. “We managed to be competitive at tracks which had plagued us in recent years. However, notwithstanding this improvement, we were still not as good as some of our competitors at preserving the performance of the rear tyres. We have worked hard on the suspension and aerodynamic characteristics to deliver a car that will be much kinder to its tyres – enough, we hope, to allow us to be competitive at all phases of the race and at each track on the calendar.

“Even though the minimum weight limit was lifted by 10kg for 2019, weight reduction remains a real challenge on the current generation of F1 cars. Components that we felt were stripped to the bone in 2018 have been taken, one by one, and subjected to a further round of aggressive analysis to shave further weight from them. Some components surrender what feels like a giant step of half a kilo, others just a few grams, but collectively each of these victories add up to a handful of kilos that have been invested back in the car on aerodynamics, suspension and Power Unit to bring performance.”

Despite significant changes to many areas of the car, the W10 also retains some of the characteristics of its predecessors, as the general architecture and the wheelbase stay the same.

“A close inspection will reveal that the execution of this concept has been further refined,” said James. “Every item is pushed tighter, made more slender – each change permitting us to improve the aerodynamic performance beyond what would have been possible had we accepted the physical limitations of the 2018 design.”

An all-new Power Unit for the 2019 season – the Mercedes-AMG F1 M10 EQ Power+

While the chassis development was partly driven by regulatory changes, the Power Unit regulations remained largely stable, making the development work more of an evolutionary process in which the team worked hard to achieve two main goals – improving performance and reliability.

“We’ve made changes to the cooling architecture of the Power Unit, which hopefully provide aerodynamic benefit on the car and also provide efficiency benefit on the Power Unit – so, hopefully a win on both the chassis and on the Power Unit,” said Andy Cowell, Managing Director of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains. “ Right at the heart of the Power Unit is the conversion of fuel into heat release in the combustion chamber and useful work out of the crankshaft. We have made steps on the combustion efficiency and on the ERS system. The marriage between the turbocharger assembly with the MGU-H, the inverter, the cells and the MGU-K: that whole system is now capable of operating more efficiently and helping with energy deployment through a race.”

The team’s title partner PETRONAS played an important role in the hunt for improved performance and reliability, especially in the development of the new Power Unit.

“The fuel is right at the heart of the combustion and making sure that the chemical composition and the thermodynamic architecture of the Power Unit are working together exceptionally well is key to thermal efficiency,” said Andy. “PETRONAS have continued to work well with our thermodynamic engineers, we’ve run many candidates on the single cylinder and on the V6 engine to derive a new fuel for 2019. It’s a very tight-knit group, the PETRONAS engineers know exactly how the engine works and our Power Unit engineers know exactly how the fuel works. PETRONAS also provide the lubricants for our car which play two roles: to make sure that components don’t contact, it’s key that there is an oil film between highly loaded components both for reliability and for friction reduction. If you can keep components apart the friction is lower, and the wear is lower, but the lubricant also provides cooling within the engine. It’s a critical element of the engine, it’s the lifeblood of the engine for its survival.”

The maximum race fuel allowance has increased by 5 kilograms to a total of 110 kilograms. However, the higher fuel allowance does not impact the thermal efficiency of Formula One Power Units, which are among the most efficient engines ever-built.

“If you have got an efficient engine with efficient aerodynamics and you are prepared to do a little bit of lift and coasting, then you have the opportunity to start the race at less than 110kg,” explained Andy. “For every 5kg of weight you save, it’s about two tenths of a second a lap quicker, so there is a natural reward to starting the race a little bit lighter. There is still a competitive edge from making an efficient car – both Power Unit and aerodynamics – and racing smartly to make sure that you have good pace at the start of the race as well as through the race.”

The result of more than a year’s work

Work on the all-new Formula One car started 16 months ago, when the team was still fighting for its fourth championship title. The development work was spearheaded by a small group of engineers, working on the general concept of the car. Over the course of the 2018 season and in the midst of an exciting and challenging championship fight, more and more engineers in both Brixworth and Brackley started working on the W10.

“Work on the W10 project began at the end of 2017,” said James Allison, Technical Director. “That’s when the first meetings happened about how the chassis was going to be laid out, how the Power Unit was going to change from the previous season and what our rough objectives were for the project. That was when we set out the plans for our deployment of resources, developing and racing the car in 2018 and the right number of the right people to design, conceive and then create the new car for 2019.”

On the chassis side, more than half of the engineers in the design office were working on the W10 by the 2018 F1 summer break. In October, when the F1 circus headed to the Americas and both the team and Lewis claimed their fifth World Championship titles, the factory was working flat out on the W10, designing and producing parts of the future contender. Overall, about 7000 drawings were released for manufacture.

Over the winter, many of the major components and sub systems like the transmission, the suspension, the cooling system and the Power Unit underwent rigorous testing, in which they were subjected to loads, temperatures and fatigue cycles similar to those they would experience in the F1 season. Before the car left the garage for the first time today, the team had tested something close to half a million kilometres cumulatively across all these different components.

“There are hours and hours that go into each piece, each assembly, each system, each full element and then the final Power Unit,” said Andy. “It is a huge moment when the Power Unit bursts into life and those countless hours are rewarded with fuel being converted into useful work. Yes, it is a machine, but it is part of people’s lives and it’s personal.”

The initial “Fire-Up” is another one of those special moments as it is the first time when all the core systems – the hydraulic system, the electrical system, the fuel system, the cooling system, the gearbox, the chassis and of course the Power Unit – are assembled and the engine runs for the first time in unison with the other systems.

“You’ve had a factory which had fallen silent for a few weeks, from the end of the last season to this moment, where an engine leaps into life in the factory again,” said James. “Even if you’re not down in the build shop, you can hear it, so is has a certain emotional impact on us because a motor is running and it is the living proof that all those components are not only assembled but they function. At the same time, you know that you’re only about half way there through the about 90 planned test events.”

A strong and trusted driver line-up for 2019

While the 2019 Formula One paddock will see changes to various driver line-ups in almost every team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport will stay true to the line-up that won the team the 2017 and 2018 Constructors’ Championships – Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. After the winter break, both drivers are now eager to go back racing.

“Both Lewis and Valtteri spent the winter taking their minds off Formula One for a while, which is important” said Toto. “Lewis spent some time travelling. When we met after the winter break, he was refreshed; he’s extremely hungry and wants to start racing again. Valtteri spent some time with his family in Finland, but he was quickly back into racing cars as he competed in the Arctic Rally. We had a good chat after the break; he was in a good place and has been able to fully reset after a season that was not always easy for him. Valtteri knows he has the full backing of the team to succeed and he’s excited to get back in the car and show his critics what he can do. I’m really looking forward to a strong competition between the two of them, racing each other hard and fighting hard against our rivals.”

“I had a great Christmas with my family and then I went snowmobiling, I went skiing, I went surfing with Kelly Slater, which was amazing,” said Lewis. “I completely switched off from racing for a while, trying to focus and re-centre myself and training hard for the new season. 2018 was a great year, but I feel like 2019 can be even better. I want to achieve more, I want to continue to keep pushing. I feel energised and I’m ready to attack.“

“I had a really good winter; I’m full of energy and I’m looking forward to the new season,” said Valtteri. “I started my first training camp in early January and have been on a good path ever since. I did most of my training in Finland, first in the south close to my home town, then further north in Lapland because that’s where you get a proper winter. The conditions are quite harsh, it’s freezing cold, snow is guaranteed, but it’s a great environment to exercise and prepare your mind and your body for the upcoming fight.”

The significance of the first laps for the team’s new car was clear for both drivers, too.

“I am excited for the new season and that everyone starts with zero points. We are all on the same line and 2019 can bring anything; I’m going to go all in this year,” continued Valtteri. “ There was quite a bit of criticism at some stages of 2018, but that's actually been a positive thing for me because it's given me an extra boost! I’m now looking forward to drive the new car for the first time. The car has changed quite a bit because of the aero regulations changes, so it will be interesting to get an idea of how the car feels and how it handles. You never know what to expect and so it’s exciting to jump in the car and discover it, to try to get a feel of the balance of the car and its behaviour. We do already push the car in the shakedown to get a feel for it.”

As for the reigning world champion, he begins his seventh season with the Mercedes works team, with which he has scored four world titles, 52 race wins and 57 pole positions since 2013.

“I’m really looking forward to the next step of our journey together with Mercedes and embarking on what’s not been done before,” concluded Lewis. “This is my seventh year with the team and the energy and the determination within the team are really inspiring. The buzz really starts at the beginning of the year when you see the car coming together. And then you get to the shakedown and you get into the car – it just never gets old. It feels like a real privilege – so many people have worked together to form that car and you know how much hard work has gone into it. Driving the new car is like meeting someone new for the first time – you want to get to know them the best way as quick as possible as you embark on a journey together.”

2019 – An historic year for Mercedes

The 2019 season plays a special role for the team, as the year of the 1000^th Formula One Grand Prix is also the tenth season in modern-day F1 for Mercedes as a works team.

“We’ve come a long way since 2010 when we re-joined Formula One with a Mercedes works team,” says Toto. “We had a steep learning curve in the first few years, building the long-term capability of the team and continuously improving our performance. We saw the first good season in 2013, when we finished second. After that we’v e been on a winning streak with five consecutive double championships – an incredible success that none of us in the team, even in our wildest dreams, would have believed possible, especially since we were up against formidable opponents.”

Together with its parent company, the team also celebrates 125 years of motorsport in 2019: in 1894, Daimler engines won the world’ s first motor car race in 1894 from Paris to Rouen as two cars fitted with a Daimler two-cylinder V-engine shared first prize in the 126 kilometre race.

2019 is also the 85^th anniversary of the Silver Arrows, as the Eifelrennen, held on 3 June 1934 at the Nürburgring was the first race in which the Mercedes-Benz W 25 competed. Legend has it that the metallic silver skin was only exposed the night before the race, by grinding off the car’s white paint to bring the starting weight of the W 25 down to the limit determined by the race regulations.

The 2019 challenger celebrates this important year in the company’s motorsport history with a new design which has been reduced to two main elements. The first element of the star pattern provides the elegance and luxury of Mercedes-Benz, combining high-grade technology and craftsmanship. The second element is a single, strong PETRONAS green flow line that brings speed and dynamism. And just like the original Silver Arrows from 1934, the livery of the W10 also brings a performance advantage as the new design sees a slight weight benefit compared to last year.

Mercedes to compete in Formula One and Formula E in 2019

2019 is the first year in which Mercedes will compete in both Formula One and Formula E. Joining the all-electric racing series at the end of the year for season six, the team is looking forward to a completely new challenge which will complement the brand’s motorsport approach.

“We embrace the challenge in every category in which we participate,” said Toto. “Formula E will be a completely new playing field for us. There are teams out there that already have a lot of experience in the series and experience is crucial for success in Formula E, so it will be a tremendous challenge for us. We are setting ambitious expectations but at the same time we don’t overestimate the impact we can have in our first-ever FE season. We will be the only car manufacturer that participates in both Formula One and Formula E and the learnings from both series will cascade into the road car world, making both platforms an important technology driver for the entire Mercedes family.”

This new approach will see Mercedes-Benz competing at both ends of the motorsport spectrum: in Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport combining high technology and the most demanding competitive challenge; and in Formula E, which embodies the transformation that is underway in the automotive industry.

We want to win as many titles as possible before we go

Since the “new” DTM was founded in 2000, we have so far enjoyed 18 continuous seasons of great racing, spectacular battles and close-matched competition. We were lucky enough to celebrate championship success and learned how to handle defeat. And we loved every second of it.

“Our years in the DTM will always be held high as a major chapter in the motorsport history of Mercedes,” commented Toto Wolff. “I want to thank every team member whose fantastic work has helped to make Mercedes-Benz the most successful DTM manufacturer during that time. Although leaving is tough for all of us, we will be doing everything during this season and next to make sure we win as many DTM titles as possible before we go. We owe that to our fans and to ourselves.”

Since the DTM was founded in 1988, there have been 26 racing seasons during which Mercedes-Benz has won 10 drivers’, 13 team and six manufacturer titles (DTM + ITC combined). With our fans, we have celebrated 183 race wins, 128 pole positions and 540 podium finishes.

„Our departure from the DTM brings a long-standing motorsport era to a close. We look back with pride on the commitment of our teams, drivers, partners and the many people behind the scenes, who so often made the series a fascinating platform for our customers and for fans of our brand,” concluded Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars Dr Jens Thiemer. “It is now time to start on a new path.”

Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture

Electric mobility is already of strategic importance to the company today and this will only increase in the future. Formula E offers a perfect platform on which to demonstrate the competitiveness of our technology brand EQ in a racing environment, in the area of battery electric powertrains.

„Mercedes-Benz will market future battery powered electric vehicles using the EQ label,” explained Dr Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz. “Formula E is a significant step in order to demonstrate the performance of our attractive battery powered electric vehicles, as well as giving an emotional spin to our EQ technology brand through motorsport and marketing.”

Toto Wolff views Formula E as a brand new form of racing that reflects a rapidly changing automotive landscape.

“In motorsport like in every other area, we want to be the benchmark in the premium segment and to explore innovative new projects. The combination of Formula 1 and Formula E delivers that. Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture: it offers a brand new format, combining racing with a strong event character, in order to promote current and future technologies. Electrification is happening in the road car world and Formula E offers manufacturers an interesting platform to bring this technology to a new audience – and to do so with a completely new kind of racing, different to any other series. I am pleased that we were able to extend our entry option for one year to the 2019/20 season. This gives us time to properly understand the series and to prepare for our entry in the right way.”

“Today is a great day as we welcome Mercedes to the Formula E family - adding to the increasing number of manufacturers joining the electric revolution,” said Formula E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag. “This step shows how much the world is changing, not only in motorsport, but the whole automotive industry. We’re witnessing a transformation that will first change our cities, and then our roads. Formula E is the championship that embodies that change, and together with all our teams and manufacturers we’ll keep pushing for technologies to have better and more affordable electric cars.”

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

This was a great drive by Lewis and a great result. Pace-wise, things looked pretty good out there today in all conditions, although there wasn’t much between us and Ferrari when we were running in free air. For Lewis, it was a pretty drama-free afternoon: he was managing the pace in the right way, our strategy was spot on and, on an afternoon when there was lots of scope for making mistakes, he didn’t put a foot wrong. As for Valtteri, his spin behind the Safety Car was unfortunate and cost him a lot of time. Mistakes like this happen but it was encouraging to see he had the pace in the car after that and could at least battle back to the position he held before the spin. Now he needs to forget about it and concentrate on the next race. Overall it’s now 1:1 for us against Ferrari and the development race is on. This is just the beginning…

James Allison, Technical Director

Every single victory in Formula 1 feels great but this one is particularly satisfying after coming away from Melbourne without the win - it’s nice to get that monkey off our back. Our strategy calls were all tidily executed in what was a complicated race early on with the wet-dry track. Lewis drove faultlessly today but Valtteri unfortunately paid a heavy price for a small mistake behind the Safety Car. He raced well from that point forwards but his Grand Prix was heavily compromised by his early spin. We head to Bahrain on a high but we know we will be back to square one in terms of fighting a very strong opposition. We know that we will have to be absolutely on top of our game to do well there. All focus now on the next race and trying to repeat this great result.

Archiviato il Mondiale costruttori, in attesa della gara di Austin, il team MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS scende nuovamente in pista per correre una gara di solidarietà e invita i suoi tifosi in tutto il mondo a sostenere le popolazioni italiane colpite dal sisma. Il team MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ha, infatti, donato alla Fondazione Laureus Italia Onlus le tute indossate dai due piloti nella stagione 2016, che da oggi e fino al 30 ottobre saranno battute all'asta in due singoli lotti, attraverso il sito charitystars.com/mercedes.

Le due tute, autografate dai top driver della Stella, hanno vissuto le fasi più significative della stagione e conquistato importanti vittorie. In particolare, la tuta di Nico ha accompagnato il pilota tedesco dal Gran Premio d'Austria fino ad Hockenheim, passando per Silverstone e l'Hungaroring. La race suit di Hamilton ha, invece, conquistato il gradino più alto del podio di Monaco e Montreal, prendendo parte a ben sei gare, da Sochi a Baku.

Per partecipare all'asta e aggiudicarsi un pezzo importante della storia del Motorsport è sufficiente collegarsi sul sito, registrarsi con email e numero di telefono e fare la propria offerta. Al termine dell' asta risulterà vincitore l'utente che avrà effettuato l'offerta più alta.

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Nico Rosberg

What an awesome weekend! It felt great right from when the lights went green on Friday. I got a good rhythm in practice, had a strong Qualifying, a decent start and then from the lead I was able to control the pace in the race. I had to save my engine a bit as it was my last race in the cycle – but the gap was always safe. I came here to win in Japan and I managed to do so, which is really special. It's a fantastic feeling to win at this legendary race track. Massive congratulations to all of my colleagues here in Japan, back at Brackley and Brixworth, and the hundreds of thousands of Daimler employees out there for the third Constructors' World Championship. A huge thank you to every single person and to every partner who made this possible. They are really the best! They deserve it so much after the unbelievable effort over these past few years, so let's celebrate hard! I might do a little bit of celebrating myself but not too much. The season is not over yet with a few races still to go around the world, so I need to keep my energy up! Thank you so much to everyone out in the crowds this weekend too. The fans here always create a special atmosphere and they've put on such a great show. Arigato! Now we need to focus on the last four races. I look forward to going to America next. See you there!

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Talento, determinazione e una monoposto, la F1 W07 Hybrid, che va sempre a segno sono stati determinanti per il successo di Nico Rosberg al Gran Premio di Monza che in occasione della gara italiana ha trovato un alleato in più: il pubblico.

Tanti i tifosi che hanno spinto sull'acceleratore insieme al pilota tedesco anche  sui social attraverso l'hashtag #GoNico che in occasione del week-end di Monza ha raggiunto un potenziale di 6.000.000 di utenti.

Questi risultati sono stati raggiunti grazie anche al successo delle due emoji sviluppate ad hoc da Twitter per Mercedes-Benz Italia.

Parte di quei tifosi erano lì, a festeggiare la prima vittoria in carriera di Nico sul circuito di Monza. Una folla in festa che, in perfetto italiano, Nico ha trasformato in un coro, intonando dal gradino più alto del podio le note Seven Nation Army, quella stessa canzone che sostenne la nazionale di calcio nella vittoria ai mondiali del 2006. Perché come ha sottolineato Nico, i tifosi italiani "sono davvero unici, i migliori del mondo".

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In Formula 1 le prestazioni sono tutto. In base ai regolamenti in vigore nel 2014, solo la massima efficienza consente di ottenere i tempi migliori. Una sfida che ha coinvolto da subito il settore Sviluppo Vetture Stradali della Stella: mentre il team MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS continua a imporsi nella stagione 2017 i tecnici di Brackley e Stoccarda sviluppano strategie sempre più efficaci e vincenti.

Prima di entrare nel mondo della Formula 1 nel 2010, Mercedes-Benz era principalmente impegnata investendo in tecnologia e sviluppo. Mentre il team prendeva forma, mirando alla massima competitività, aveva inizio una sfida tecnologica per il 2014 in cui il know-how e l'esperienza di engineering della Stella avrebbero ricoperto un ruolo decisivo, compiendo un intero percorso di sviluppo a partire dalla produzione del KERS (2009), primo approccio ai sistemi ibridi in F1, fino alle vetture di produzione (AMG SLS Electric Drive) e ad una F1 completamente ibrida nel 2014 (W05 Hybrid). La partecipazione a progetti come il sistema KERS si rivelò di massima importanza per fare esperienza all'interno dell'azienda e raggiungere una leadership nel settore e gli sviluppi furono estremamente veloci. Sia il reparto Motorsport che Mercedes-Benz Cars puntano oggi al costante miglioramento dell'efficienza.

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Responsabile del design della GT3 Linkin Park con numero #00 è il DJ Joe Hahn, che è attivo anche come visual artist e ha curato la regia di numerosi video della band. La livrea del bolide da corsa si distingue per l'uso del rosso e del nero su sfondo argento lucido. Il logo dei Linkin Park, dominante sul cofano motore allungato, è chiaro indizio della passione della band per il Motorsport. Al design dell'auto si abbinano alla perfezione le tute indossate dai piloti della GT3 Linkin Park. Prima di intraprendere la carriera musicale, Hahn ha studiato arte e graphic design all'‘Art Center College of Design' di Pasadena (California) insieme al chitarrista e tastierista Mike Shinoda. "Progettare un'auto grandiosa come Mercedes-AMG GT3 è stata un'esperienza semplicemente unica e straordinaria", ha dichiarato Joe Hahn. "Per me è stato uno sogno divenuto realtà vederla anche in azione su pista". Tobias Moers, Presidente del Board of Management di Mercedes-AMG GmbH ha dichiarato:  "Oltre che per le performance, il Marchio si distingue per la perfezione e la passione delle proprie vetture. Abbiamo fatto onore a questi valori con la storica quadruplice vittoria alla 24 Ore del Nürburgring. E con la vettura disegnata dai Linkin Park per la 24 Ore di Spa intendiamo sottolineare ancora una volta l'avanguardia di Mercedes-AMG. Un design accattivante creato dai Linkin Park in persona alla base di una fruttuosa partnership destinata a proseguire negli anni a venire".

In tutto otto Mercedes-AMG GT3 sono impegnate nella 24 Ore sulle ‘montagne russe delle Ardenne' a Spa-Francorchamps. Oltre ai tre bolidi del team BLACK FALCON, altre tre GT3 gareggiano infatti per il team HTP Motorsport. A queste si aggiungono poi le due vetture della squadra francese AKKA ASP. La 24 Ore di Spa non è soltanto un appuntamento simbolo nel panorama motoristico, ma ha anche acquisito una dimensione storica per il Marchio AMG. 45 anni fa, infatti, Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 AMG ha qui vinto nella sua categoria, segnando la prima tappa fondamentale della storia della società e nel Motorsport.

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Nico has been a core member of the Silver Arrows since the team returned to the sport in 2010 and has played a crucial role in the team's success in that time.

He has scored 19 Grand Prix wins and 25 pole positions so far with Mercedes-Benz and is currently leading the Drivers' World Championship.

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Nico Rosberg

This weekend really went really perfectly for me. Already in Qualifying I had found a perfect balance and that continued throughout the race, which was fantastic. I had a great start and from there was able to control the pace at the front. Thank you so much to everybody at the factories for building such an amazing car. If you have a car like this, you are really able to push to the limits and that's an awesome feeling. Lewis drove really well to come back up to second so quickly, so well done to him too. The only down side to the weekend was to see that reliability is becoming a bit of a concern, as Lewis obviously has a problem yesterday and both cars had issues during the race today. But we have a great team behind us and I'm fully confident that we will sort this out. It´s unbelievable to go into the European races with four wins and I really look forward to Barcelona now. Thanks, Russia – you were very good to me!

Lewis Hamilton

Firstly, I would like to thank the guys who came together to get the new parts over here from the factory last night – and then to the mechanics who worked all through the night to get everything prepared for me to go out there and race today. The guys on my side of the garage are having a really hard time of it at the moment – but I have every faith and confidence in them. We've swapped things round in the garage a bit this season but that is absolutely not the reason we've been having issues. It hasn't been the case for the past three years and I have no reason to believe it would be now. Without their hard work I wouldn't even have got to this point, so a big thank you to them once again. The first corner was pretty hectic. I don't know what happened – but I saw something happening in the corner of my eye and just thought "I'm not getting caught again!" I managed to get out of the way and avoid it – but if I'd turned in I would have collected them. It was pure instinct and I'm glad I was able to come out without any contact this time. From there I had good pace and I felt like I could challenge for the win – but then there was the water pressure problem which ended that chance. It was tough to hang on at the end but I handled it as best I could. I had to really nurse the car home and I'm just relieved to have made it to the flag after how this weekend has been. I've got a long way to go yet this season with not many healthy engine parts left, so we need to do a better job on reliability.

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• MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg today unveiled the eighth Silver Arrow to compete in Formula One – the latest chapter in a racing legacy which began in 1934 for the three-pointed star.

• Toto Wolff: "We remain humble, feet on the ground, pushing hard to develop every area"

• Lewis Hamilton: "I've got to make sure I raise the bar again"

• Nico Rosberg: "I'm absolutely focused and determined that this can be my year"

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• Tyres, safety and sound all feature on short list of rule changes for the coming season

• Ironing out errors during a record-length season the core focus for Mercedes-Benz

• PETRONAS fuel and lubricants central to progress in both performance and reliability

• Paddy Lowe: "Our objective is excellence in all areas"

• Andy Cowell: "These Power Units are incredible feats of engineering"

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• Lewis took his 10th win of the season, the 43rd of his Formula One career, en route to sealing his third World Drivers' Championship crown

• The result sees Lewis become the 10th driver to win three or more titles and the only Briton to successfully defend his crown

• Today also saw Lewis become the first driver to claim ten or more victories in consecutive seasons

• Nico Rosberg finished second to clinch his 12th podium of the season and 38th of his Formula One career

• The result marks the 25th 1-2 finish for the Silver Arrows in Formula One and the 50th for Mercedes-Benz power

• Both drivers started on intermediate tyres, with each pitting twice for option (soft) compound slicks

• MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS now lead Ferrari by 200 points in the Constructors' Championship

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What an incredible moment for Mercedes-Benz! Congratulations to our team in Brackley and Brixworth who have worked so hard to make this achievement possible, winning a second world championship in a row.

After winning in 2014, we raised the bar again to secure this year's title, and we needed to because our rivals gave us plenty of headaches as they stepped up their performance. The work by our team is the perfect example of what drives Mercedes-Benz forward: the best technology. The most efficient hybrid petrol engine that our company has ever made, world-beating aerodynamics and intelligent design in every part of the W06 Hybrid racing car.

Most importantly, though, we must not forget the human factor: we have two exceptional sportsmen at the wheel, Lewis and Nico, and a fantastic team behind the scenes, who have delivered 12 wins in 15 races so far this year. Their work has made every employee of Mercedes-Benz a world champion and we are very proud of them.

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Lewis Hamilton

This weekend has been just fantastic. A perfect weekend for me - I can't remember one like it. This race is so special for every driver. When you stand up on that podium it's so emotional. It's a really proud moment to be up there in front of that sea of fans and to walk in the footsteps of so many great drivers who have won here. The start was pretty close, holding off Sebastian. But from there I felt in control. The balance wasn't perfect for qualifying but it was one of the best I've had in the race. I can't thank the team enough for all their hard work. Everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is doing such an incredible job. I've never seen anything like it, so thank you everyone.

Nico Rosberg

This weekend was very tough for me. There were just too many problems with my car which made it impossible to fight for the win. It hurts a lot when you have to retire with just two or three laps to go. A few corners earlier, I felt already that I had lost some power but was still hoping I could make it. Today was a massive step in the wrong direction for me in the Championship – but to complain doesn't help in these situations. I just need to keep pushing and come back even stronger. Giving up is not an option for me. I will push hard to turn things in the right direction – starting in Singapore, which is one of my favourite races. I'm looking forward to it already.

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport

A bittersweet day for us all with a fantastic win for Lewis but a DNF for Nico after he had climbed back through the field. The pattern was set at the start, when Lewis retained the lead but Nico suffered a bad start. Lewis was able to build a good gap to Vettel, drove a flawless race and thoroughly deserved his victory. The result leaves him in a very strong championship position with seven races to go.

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Spa was a really positive weekend for me. I felt comfortable right the way through and it was great to finally get another win at one of the real classic F1 circuits. Now, we head to another of those in Monza. It's an awesome track – so fast and with some of the most passionate fans you'll see anywhere in the world. I was actually at this circuit with Sir Stirling Moss earlier this year, driving the banking in his old Mercedes W 196, which was just awesome. Having that taste of what it was like for those guys back in the day really gives you a feel for the history of this place and why it became so legendary. It's still a big challenge today, too. Fast, but really technical at the same time with some heavy braking and big kerbs to ride for the best line. Racing in Italy brings back a lot of good memories for me and I'd love to add to those this weekend, so that's the aim.

Nico Rosberg

The race in Spa was definitely disappointing. My start was not good so I need to work on that and also on finding those extra tenths in qualifying to get back on top there. I know I have the car underneath me to get pole and the win every time with this incredible machine the team have built, so nothing less will do. Monza is next and I can't wait to try out this season's Silver Arrow there. I'm sure it will suit our car and it's a circuit I really enjoy, so all the ingredients are there for a strong weekend. I'm sure the Tifosi will want a red car to be on the top step but, whatever the result, you know they will create an unbelievable atmosphere. Standing on the podium last year was a great experience and the target is to be one step higher this time around.

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Il team di Formula 1 Mercedes-AMG Petronas conquista il prestigioso Trofeo Lorenzo Bandini 2015, giunto alla sua XXII edizione. Il 30 agosto, presso il borgo medievale di Brisighella, il premio legato all'indimenticabile pilota italiano verrà ritirato da Toto Wolff, Direttore esecutivo del team della Stella. Inoltre, Paddy Lowe, Direttore tecnico del gruppo, verrà insignito della Medaglia Presidente del Senato. In occasione dell'evento, sarà esposta la monoposto Campione del Mondo della stagione 2014, la F1 W05 Hybrid.

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Le emozioni della Formula 1 non si fermano mai e da oggi, presso il nuovo Museo della Velocità dell'Autodromo Nazionale Monza, è possibile ammirare la monoposto Campione del Mondo della stagione 2014, la Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid. La vettura, vanto della Casa di Stoccarda, ha stabilito successi mai visti prima: 701 i punti raccolti conquistando 16 vittorie, 18 pole-position, 12 giri veloci, 31 podi e 30 partenze in prima fila. La freccia d'argento guidata da Lewis Hamilton e Nico Rosberg è l'auto dei record, la più vincente nella storia della Formula 1.

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Maximilian Götz debutta nel DTM al volante di una Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM a marchio MV Agusta

Mercedes-AMG dà il benvenuto al produttore di motociclette italiano MV Agusta nella stagione 2015 del DTM. Il logo della storica Casa motociclistica italiana farà, infatti, bella mostra di sé su una vettura Mercedes‑AMG nel Campionato DTM di quest'anno.

Al suo esordio al DTM, Maximilian Götz (29 anni, Mücke Motorsport) gareggerà per la prima volta nel campionato turismo alla guida di una Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM con le insegne di MV Agusta. Una partnership che continua anche nel mondo delle competizioni a due ruote, i piloti del team MV Agusta nei campionati mondiali Superbike e Supersport mostreranno, infatti, il logo Mercedes-AMG sulle loro MV Agusta F3 e F4 RC.

Tobias Moers, Presidente di Mercedes-AMG GmbH: "Mercedes-AMG e MV Agusta sono due marchi uniti dalla passione per la competizione. L'impegno costante per ottenere massime prestazioni e salire sul podio trovano espressione nei prodotti di entrambi. Per questo motivo è naturale continuare a scrivere insieme la nostra storia nella stagione del DTM alle porte."

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La nuova GT S garantirà la sicurezza dei piloti sul tracciato in caso di condizioni meteorologiche avverse o incidenti rendono necessario l'intervento della Safety Car. La seconda sportiva sviluppata autonomamente da Mercedes-AMG vanta i presupposti ottimali per questa impegnativa sfida nella classe regina del Motorsport. La posizione dell'anteriore-centrale con configurazione transaxle, il motore biturbo V8 con lubrificazione a carter secco, il cambio a doppia frizione e l'innovativo assetto con assi a doppi bracci trasversali in alluminio creano le basi per una rapida risposta su circuito. Una straordinaria dinamica di marcia affonda le proprie radici nel DNA di Mercedes-AMG GT S: l'intelligente struttura leggera in alluminio assicura non solo un ridotto peso della vettura, ma anche un baricentro basso ed una ripartizione ottimale del peso tra avantreno e retrotreno in rapporto 47: 53.

Bernd Mayländer, dal 2000 pilota della Safety Car ufficiale nel Campionato mondiale FIA di Formula 1™, ha dichiarato: "SLS AMG Ali di gabbiano è stata per cinque anni la mia vettura di servizio in Formula 1^®. Oggi passa il testimone alla Mercedes-AMG GT S che ho iniziato conoscere già in fase di sviluppo. La nuova sportiva AMG con le sue elevate prestazioni sul circuito mi ha entusiasmato e conquistato completamente fin dai primi chilometri."L'ex pilota DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters – Campionato Tedesco Turismo) è istruttore presso la AMG Driving Academy e Brand Ambassador Mercedes-Benz in occasione di eventi esclusivi.

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From Revolution to Evolution

2015 marks the beginning of an evolutionary process for the cutting-edge Hybrid racing formula introduced for 2014. But the word evolution shouldn't mask the scale of the change this represents: the regulatory requirements and opportunities, coupled with ambitious internal performance targets, mean that this winter has been as challenging as ever. The more stable the rules, the more innovative a team must become to deliver performance from each generation of racing machine.

"From outside, winter might look like a rest time in Formula One. But this couldn't be further from the truth", explains Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. "Long before the end of last season, development work on our 2015 car became the main priority. The winter months are the most intense, with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth working around the clock to prepare for the season ahead. Their dedication is inspiring. It would be so dangerous to rest on our laurels after 2014 – but none of us have any sense that things will be easier now. On the contrary, our motivation is as high as ever. There's a famous Babe Ruth quote I always say to people: "Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games". We are fully aware that success is not only hard won but can also be short-lived without the right approach.

"A lot of things have been put in place – not by one individual but by many individuals working as a team. And this has been about taking the right decisions at the right time, trying to avoid mistakes and, if they do happen, quickly analysing why. Even if, on paper, things are looking good, we will not fall into the trap of being overly optimistic or trying to make crystal ball predictions because this is not how the sport works. In fact, this is possibly the most brutally honest sport because the stopwatch never lies.

"The launch of a new car is an exciting moment for everybody involved. To see the product of all that hard work turn a wheel for the first time is a great source of pride – and rightly so. However, there is a long road ahead before we reach the first race.  We must build a fast, reliable racing car to be able to compete with rivals whose ability and competitiveness can never be underestimated. At this point, every team is on zero points. The only thing we know for sure is that we have consistency in our driver line-up for the third year running and they know what's expected of them, just as we know what they expect from us. We're looking forward to seeing them push each other and the team forward. It will be another fascinating battle between the two but we must wait until Melbourne until we know if we have provided them with a car that allows them to fight each other for wins."

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Quest'anno Lewis Hamilton e Nico Rosberg, sono saliti sul gradino più alto del podio in ben 16 delle 19 gare di Formula 1 regalando avvincenti testa a testa e trovandosi spesso letteralmente ruota a ruota. Il premio per questa leggendaria impresa sono stati il primo e il secondo posto nel Mondiale piloti e la vittoria assoluta nel Mondiale costruttori.

Per l'occasione Mercedes-Benz ha dedicato una straordinaria Collector's Edition ai suoi due piloti. La rivalità sul circuito, che spinge entrambi a raggiungere le massime performance, si rispecchia nel design completamente diverso dei due modelli.

Sportività e grinta: il nero

Hamilton, campione del mondo di Formula 1, mostra la sua passione per il glamour e l'esclusività con una SL 63 AMG nera. Questa vettura è caratterizzata dalla verniciatura speciale nero notte magno designo che si ritrova anche su elementi quali specchi retrovisori esterni, maniglie delle porte e cerchi. L'oro utilizzato per scritte, alette e linee orizzontali sul paraurti posteriore, le conferiscono un'aura di potenza assoluta. I terminali di scarico sono cromati neri.

Nero ed oro predominano anche negli interni: le cuciture dorate impreziosiscono i sedili in pelle Nappa nera; anche il pannello strumenti e la consolle centrale si rivestono in esclusiva pelle nera Nappa Exclusive designo e gli inserti in oro risplendono.

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Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz organised a spectacular conclusion to the 2014 sporting year on Saturday, November 29th with Stars & Cars in Stuttgart. 50,000 visitors came to the event based around the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart to honour Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, his team-mate and world championship runner-up Nico Rosberg and Silver Arrows constructors' champions MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS.

"The reception from the fans here in Stuttgart was absolutely indescribable," said Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. "I celebrated my first world title with spectators here at Stars & Cars back in 2008, but this year, they have topped even my expectations. The atmosphere was fantastic and a fitting conclusion to this incredible season. I never thought in a million years that I would receive such support. Winning this title was the best moment of my life. The team turned in an extraordinary performance, for which I would like to thank all my colleagues in the factories at Brackley, Brixworth and here in Stuttgart. Our progress since last year has been absolutely phenomenal."

This was the double world champion's first appearance in a Silver Arrow since winning the world championship last Sunday in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton, Rosberg and many other current and former racing drivers thrilled the audience by performing demo laps on a temporary 1.1 km track close to the Mercedes-Benz museum, driving Mercedes-Benz racing cars that represent 120 years of motor racing history.

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• First Silver Arrows driver to claim title since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955

• Silver Arrows works team driver Nico Rosberg finishes season as F1 championship runner-up

• 16 wins, 18 pole positions and 31 podiums for the 2014 Silver Arrows in the first season of the new hybrid era in Formula 1

Stuttgart / Abu Dhabi: A triumphant end to the 2014 Formula 1 season for Mercedes-Benz as MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS driver Lewis Hamilton wins the concluding race of the campaign at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi to take the Formula 1 world championship title for the second time in his career. His team-mate Nico Rosberg ends the season as runner-up. Between them, Hamilton and Rosberg accumulated 16 wins, 18 pole positions, 12 fastest laps and 31 podium finishes. With eleven one-two wins in a single season, the team surpassed the previous record set by McLaren in 1988. The 16th victory of the season in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix means that MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS no longer share the record with any other team for the highest number of wins in one season.

"Congratulations to the new Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. "He has truly earned that title with a fantastic performance this year. At the same time, I would also like to congratulate his team-mate Nico Rosberg and all of our staff in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart on this fascinating and highly successful season. Formula 1 is a team sport, and they have all achieved a magnificent result from their joint efforts this year. The fact is that world champions drive Mercedes-Benz. Motorsport has a long tradition at Mercedes-Benz. The very first Mercedes in 1901 was a racing car. Ever since the invention of the first automobile by Karl Benz, our company has been a force for innovation in the automotive industry. Right from the start, Mercedes-Benz regarded racing as a proving ground for some of our most important developments. The new Formula 1 regulations on hybrid power units has taken the sport in the same direction that the automotive industry was already heading. Formula 1 is carrying out pioneering work in areas that will also be of great importance in the car industry of the future."

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Per la prima volta nella storia della Formula 1, il mondiale 2014 vedrà salire sul gradino più alto del podio due vincitori: il primo uscito dal testa a testa tra Lewis Hamilton e Nico Rosberg, il secondo da un fotofinish all'ultimo tweet. La gara di Abu Dhabi sarà l'ultima sfida per partecipare all'estrazione del premio destinato al top driver di #FormulaTweet che, dopo 18 gare, vincerà un weekend Eco Charme al Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi di Bormio al volante di una Mercedes-Benz Classe C 300 BlueTECH HYBRID.

La community ha la sua auto per gareggiare e fare il tifo

#FormulaTweet è il concorso aperto a tutti gli utenti maggiorenni possessori di un account Twitter. Si partecipa registrandosi e collegando il proprio account al sito formulatweet.mercedes-benz.it. Ad ogni Gran Premio gli utenti fanno muovere la social car, una vettura decisa dai fan in tutte le sue caratteristiche, in tempo reale su una riproduzione del circuito presente sul sito internet twittando il più possibile all'hashtag #FormulaTweet. La vettura virtuale gareggia così in diretta con le auto di Formula 1 grazie al ‘motore dei fan', i commenti al GP che i tifosi riportano con l'hashtag #FormulaTweet. Ad ogni Gran Premio, i primi tre appassionati che hanno twittato e fatto sfrecciare la social car con il maggior numero di tweet si aggiudicano tanti premi della Motor Sport Collection. Inoltre, alla fine del Campionato sarà estratto il vincitore di un weekend Eco Charme al Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi di Bormio al volante di una Mercedes-Benz Classe C 300 BlueTECH HYBRID.

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• The 1-2 victory is the team's ninth in 2014 and sealed the F1 Constructors' Championship for Mercedes-Benz

• This is the first time in 120 years of motorsport that Mercedes-Benz has won the World Championship as a constructor

• Lewis' win means he equals the record number of wins for a British driver, set by Nigel Mansell (31)

• All of today's top 5 finishers were powered by Mercedes-Benz, a fitting result to seal the company's first Constructors' title

Lewis Hamilton

It was a good day and an amazing weekend. Firstly I'm so proud to have contributed to the work of this great team, to get the first Constructors' Championship for Mercedes-Benz is a huge achievement. Massive congratulations to the guys back in the UK and Germany, it's history for us. Today I had to manage the tyres a lot through the race; managing the fuel wasn't too bad. The car felt great and I didn't have to push too hard. At the end, when Nico was behind, I needed to match his times, which I did. I've thoroughly enjoyed the weekend here in Russia, it's a great place. It's been one of my favourite venues so far this year, so it's very cool to have won the first race here. ‎The fans have been amazing; I didn't know so many people followed it here but they were all there in the grandstands and looked excited! The organisers have also done a great job - the layout, the surface and the whole event; I take my hat off to them.

Nico Rosberg

We are World Champions! I feel so happy for the team and the whole Mercedes-Benz family, today we made history. Thanks to everybody for their efforts, also thanks to the husbands and wives to send us your partners to make this happen. I remember well the hard times we had in this team. So now it's great to be so dominant in our sport. But I'm also divided. Today was a really tough race for me. I just messed up in the first corner. I simply braked too late, which was unnecessary. So I flat spotted my front tyres and it was impossible to continue due to the vibrations. I had to pit, and on the prime tyre I had great pace. In the middle of the race I thought the degradation would start to increase. But very soon it was stable and I was able to push a lot. Then I managed to overtake Bottas. Also still at the end I was able to push, but the team asked me to control the pace as everyone was worried about dropping at the very end of the race. P2 was damage limitation. I really look forward to the last 3 races of the year with this outstanding championship car.

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In Formula 1 le prestazioni sono tutto, ma in base al regolamento in vigore nel 2014 solo la massima efficienza consente di ottenere i tempi migliori. Una sfida che ha coinvolto da subito il settore Sviluppo Vetture Stradali della Stella nella ricerca di soluzioni ibride in grado di assicurare efficienza e prestazioni.

Per sottolineare lo stretto legame sinergico che unisce la produzione di serie e il mondo delle competizioni sportive della Stella, in occasione del week-end di Monza, all'interno dell'hospitality della Stella, sarà possibile ammirare in anteprima italiana la nuova Classe C nella versione Station Wagon equipaggiata con l'innovativo propulsore diesel ibrido. Un quattro cilindri e un motore elettrico compatto erogano 150+20 kW (204+27 CV) e, a fronte di una potenza elevata, fanno registrare un consumo di soli 3,8 litri di gasolio nel ciclo combinato NEDC (99 grammi di CO2).

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Nico joined the team when the Silver Arrows returned to the sport in 2010 and is currently in his fifth season with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS.

Since then Nico has taken six victories, 17 podium finishes and eight pole positions with the Silver Arrows since 2010. He currently leads the Formula One Drivers' World Championship by four points.

Nico Rosberg: "I am very proud to drive the Formula One Silver Arrow of the modern era. As a German, the heritage of Mercedes-Benz is very special for me, and I am proud to be able to represent the best car brand around the world. It has been a difficult road to get to where we are now – but everybody kept believing and, thanks to the fantastic support from Mercedes-Benz, we are now leading the way in F1. There has been big progress during the past year, building up our structure, management and capability for the future. We have an awesome team and I am confident that we have the right people in place at every level. I'm looking forward to the next years together, when we will keep pushing to win even more races – and, hopefully, championships."

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"Spesso ci viene chiesto se vi sia effettivamente un trasferimento di competenze tecnologiche tra il settore corse e quello delle vetture da strada. La risposta è assolutamente ‘sì': ma il processo che si verifica è molto più complesso e non comporta solamente il trasferire particolari meccanici da una vettura all'altra", ha dichiarato Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical) di MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. "Vi sono esempi di trasferimento diretto delle tecnologie utilizzate, come la tecnologia NANOSLIDE utilizzata per rivestire le superfici di scorrimento dei cilindri, o indiretto, in cui la F1 serve come laboratorio di ricerca per sviluppare nuove soluzioni e mostrare al mondo le possibilità esistenti."

"Tecnologie come l'iniezione diretta di carburante hanno trovato applicazione nella produzione di serie grazie alle Frecce d'Argento degli anni Cinquanta dello scorso secolo", ha sottolineato il Prof. Thomas Weber, membro del Consiglio Direttivo Daimler, responsabile della Divisione Ricerca del Gruppo e responsabile del Settore Progettazione e Sviluppo di Mercedes-Benz Cars. "Oggi, le sfide e le complessità che la F1 ha di fronte sono abbastanza simili a quelle con cui ci misuriamo per la progettazione e lo sviluppo di vetture da strada di tipo avanzato, come la S 500 PLUG IN HYBRID, che richiedono di traslare l'efficienza in prestazioni di livello superiore."

Prima di entrare nel mondo della Formula 1 nel 2010, Mercedes-Benz era principalmente impegnata investendo in tecnologia e sviluppo. Mentre il team prendeva forma, mirando alla massima competitività, aveva inizio una sfida tecnologica per il 2014 in cui il know-how e l'esperienza di engineering della Stella avrebbero ricoperto un ruolo decisivo, compiendo un intero percorso di sviluppo a partire dalla produzione del KERS (2009), primo approccio ai sistemi ibridi in F1, fino alle vetture di produzione (AMG SLS Electric Drive) e ad una F1 completamente ibrida nel 2014 (W05 Hybrid). La partecipazione a progetti come il sistema KERS si rivelò di massima importanza per fare esperienza all'interno dell'azienda e raggiungere una leadership nel settore e gli sviluppi furono estremamente veloci.

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