Having acquired a title winning team at the end of 2009, Mercedes-Benz will most likely end the 2009 campaign without a single win in their pocket, something that doesn't sit well with the German manufacturer. It goes without saying that things need to take a positive turn soon in order for all Mercedes GP employees to keep their jobs.
“We hope to return to success. However, if we fail to achieve the goals we have set, we may have to change some people,” Mercedes-Benz' motorsport director Norbet Haug was quoted as saying in an interview with Autosprint.
Rumors about Mercedes GP switching to their 2011 development completely have surfaced in the media for quite some time, despite the fact that team boss Ross Brawn announced one more update for the Mercedes W01 this season, in Singapore. Past experiences have taught us that Brawn likes to enjoy a head start from all the other teams for the upcoming campaign – having used almost the entire 2008 season at Honda to develop the title winning Brawn GP 001 car in 2009 – so we're expecting a much stronger Mercedes GP team for 2011.
Several problems have gotten in the way of greatness for the German manufacturer in 2010: the W01 was based on the struggling BGP 001 from the late stages of last season, 7-time world champion Michael Schumacher did not get to full speed in time and complained about the understeering tendencies of his car, the team had a brand new lineup, etc.
However, if the squad won't get it right in 2011 also, some big names might be leaving the building, and it's unlikely that Haug was referring to the two Merc drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.
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