29/09/2012
FEATURE BY CHRIS BALFE
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As the press release advising Lewis Hamilton's new deal with Mercedes arrived in my inbox I was aware of the music emanating from the TV in the corner of the office. "I'm building an empire," sang Alpine in the trailer for the latest series of Boardwalk Empire, and as the camera closed in on the character-etched craggy features of the superb Steve Buscemi I couldn't help but wonder if the timing was coincidental or ironic.
As Ross Brawn and his team secure the latest piece in the new F1 empire Mercedes is aiming to build at Brackley, are we witnessing the fall of another empire over at Woking?
If ever anyone doubted that McLaren has been caught out by Hamilton's departure, they only had to watch Martin Whitmarsh's interview with Sky Sports News. Though he was attempting to put a brave face on things, the shock and the hurt was obvious, despite the brave assurances that 'we've won championships before, we'll win championship again'.
It was like the break up of a love affair, a break up all the more painful because you had no say in it.
Of course, Whitmarsh's hurt wasn't simply about Lewis heading off to Brackley, fact is, unless something pretty amazing happens in the next couple of months the McLaren boss may also find himself heading for the exit.
In the eyes of this particular observer, since Ron was effectively banished to the sidelines, McLaren, the F1 team, has never been the same. Admit it; following Lewis' 'is it because I'm black' quip, or the sight of Rhianna walking through the team garage - on a Grand Prix Saturday - glass of Champagne in hand, haven't you found yourself muttering; 'I bet Ron's going crazy right now' or 'Ron wouldn't have put up with this'?
Then again, has McLaren lost focus; is its diversification into other fields costing what was its core business, its F1 team? While Ron and his partners may want to emulate Ferrari, why the need for some of the other projects, especially when it is clear that the F1 team is not the force it once was. Personally, I think the Tooned cartoon project is brilliant, though the first series will clearly be binned following Lewis' departure (will Sergio now appear as a Speedy Gonzalez type character in series two… arriba, arriba, andele, andele?) but is it at the expense of the Woking team's credibility where it really matters… on track?
As for Lewis, who can blame him? He's a young man, enormously talented and with the world at his feet. Like his counterparts on the football field at a very young age he is richer beyond his wildest dreams. He mixes with superstars, has his pick of some of the world's most beautiful women and all the time people are tripping over themselves to tell him how brilliant he is.
There is talk that he found the corporate confines of Woking stifling however, ignoring the fact that he only voiced his concerns after he'd won the title, made the millions and moved to Switzerland, does he really believe the atmosphere in Stuttgart is rock 'n' roll? If Lewis wants to have fun with his racing and have his celebrity pals in for the Grand Prix weekend he would be best served forming his own team or maybe asking EJ to buy-out Vijay Mallya and partners.
Justifying the move, there is talk of Mercedes global reputation, though the rumoured £60m must also have helped sweeten the pill. However, we are talking F1 here and despite talk of the legendary Silver Arrows, the fact is that Mercedes return to the sport has been anything but glorious.
It is probably unfair to make such comparisons, but since Mercedes returned to F1 at the beginning of 2010 it has enjoyed 1 win, 6 podiums and scored 515 points. It finished the 2010 season fourth in the Constructors' Championship, a feat it repeated in 2011, and is currently fifth. McLaren, in the same period, has enjoyed 16 wins, 45 podiums and 1,212 points. It is currently second in the standings, having finished in the same position in both 2010 and 2011.
Now only a fool would suggest that Mercedes can turn this around in one year, therefore many are suggesting that the revival will come with the introduction of the new formula in 2014. Assuming, of course, the new formula actually happens in 2014, and according to Bernie Ecclestone it won't.
I have said it before and I will say it again, there are times when one gets the distinct feeling that the Brackley HQ is cursed and has been since British American Racing first used the immortal; 'tradition of excellence' nonsense. Fact is that as BAR, Honda, Brawn and Mercedes, other than some good results in 2004, and the tyre-managed win in Hungary in 2006, the Brackley machine has only ever been outstanding for half of one season, and we all know why.
Looking ahead, one wonders if anyone in the Brackley area will attempt to place a five-figure bet on winning the 2013 championship, once again knowing something that the rest of us don't. After all, it wouldn't be the first time.
Ross Brawn might have secured some big names in the last couple of years, he might have a personal track record second to none, he might have Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, but he's not just up against McLaren, there's the little matter of Red Bull and Ferrari, and for the paymasters in Germany, not to mention stockholders and employees, only domination will suffice.
Earlier this week, it was claimed that the legendary Niki Lauda had been recruited to head a new Mercedes "super team". Although one of the greatest drivers to grace our sport, this would be the same Niki Lauda who enjoyed unparalleled success with Jaguar, you know, the team with the driver (Eddie Irvine) who happened to be the highest earner on the entire Ford payroll. Thankfully, the Austrian legend is merely on board as a non-executive chairman of the team's board of directors.
As Lewis heads to Brackley we wish him the very best, however, there is this underlying feeling that he is failing to learn from the mistakes of others. Looking at countless other examples of history repeating itself, someone, please, tell him the story of Jacques Villeneuve, a guy who won a title in the best car out there then went to Brackley.
Of course, Lewis already has a tenuous connection with Brackley, his management company, XIX, being the brainchild of Simon Fuller, the Simon Cowell-a-like who masterminded the epic MyEarthDream debacle.
Stablemates at XIX include footballer David Beckham and his, pop star turned fashion designer, wife Victoria. Although popular with sponsors and the masses the pair take more than their fair share of flak, especially from the British media, which has a reputation of building a 'star' only to gleefully set about destroying it again when it feels the time is right. As the Hamilton brand is established, thereby placing Lewis directly in the firing line, how will he handle it? Based on previous experience not very well. The Englishman, who very much wears his heart on his sleeve, has admitted to allowing events in his personal life to affect his work. If he thinks he is in the global media spotlight now, wait until Fuller begins to really work his 'magic'.
Talking of the Beckhams, and I know personally of numerous acts of kindness and benevolence that never made it into the media, does anyone remember their trip to Silverstone a few years back. Under the guidance of Mr Fuller the pair attended the 2007 British Grand Prix to give the MyEarthDream liveried Honda team a bit of a boost in terms of morale, after all, after seven races the team had scored just one point. Having pressed the flesh in the Honda garage the star-struck duo promptly headed up the grid, followed by the media pack, to greet the sport's latest sensation, a certain Lewis Hamilton.
And on the subject of Brackley, let's not forget Craig Pollock, the driving force behind the whole BAR project who recently popped up as a prospective (turbo) engine supplier only to fade away again, as many had predicted.
Quite how Friday's events, even though some at both teams will have been aware of the move for some weeks, will affect the final phase of the championship is anyone's guess. Lewis is a free man and has served his team well, but as he prepares to head off one has to wonder if his imminent departure will damage morale at a time it is most needed. Then again, what better time to prove to Lewis and the world that he has made the wrong decision.
On the other hand, as attention turns to the 2013 car, for the first time for as long as he can remember, Lewis will find himself shut out from certain team meetings, while some at Woking, no matter how much they have supported him until now, might start to question certain incidents, such as the infamous telemetry tweet.
If Lewis' move, even though on the cards, has raised eyebrows today, then so too must Sergio Perez' confirmation at Woking. Though some believe the youngster would have made a perfect teammate to Alonso others follow the Montezemolo train of thought, suggesting that he is still not yet right for Ferrari.
Martin Whitmarsh suggests that under the guidance of Jenson Button, another skilled in the art of tyre management, Sergio will learn much, though one wag on the Pitpass forum suggests that this simply translates as discovering ten different ways of complaining about lack of grip.
Another 'victim' of all this is Michael Schumacher, who for the second time in his F1 career is nudged aside to make way for a younger, precocious talent. Though the German never quite got to grips with the 'new' F1 his reputation, contrary to what some might say, is not tarnished. Yes, there were mistakes, some of them ludicrous, but once he'd got the hang of things he gave his teammate a run for his money. Furthermore, while the hunger to succeed is (almost) as strong as ever, this time around Michael appears more at peace within himself, more eager to actually enjoy what he is doing. Whether you take the fact that his picture outsold any other in the Zoom charity auction seriously or not, the fact is that he is a major draw, box office gold, and the sport needs him.
Make no mistake, there is no agenda here, I hope it works out for all concerned, for Lewis, Mercedes, Ross, McLaren, Martin, Sergio, Michael, Uncle Tom Cobbly and all. The fact is however, that whilst I believe McLaren has taken its eye off the ball, Lewis has been guided by those who have no real comprehension of what it is all about. Since he first stepped into a kart all those years ago, he has lived in a rarefied atmosphere surrounded, for the most part, by others of a similar age and varying degrees of talent. Like the rest of us, he wanted the money, the bling, the kudos, the respect, the girls, but underlying all this was an all-consuming competitive streak that drives such men, a determination to be the best that touches almost everything they do not just racing. While he has the mega-contract, the celebrity pals and pop-star girlfriend, I'm not sure that Mercedes can fulfil his real hunger, the need to win. And ultimately, failure to win further races, further titles, will make the rest of it totally insignificant. Just ask Jacques.
Despite the reassuring soundbites, the determined grins, as I look at yesterday's announcements I am minded of Spanish philosopher George Santayana, who famously warned: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". Which, over the years has been paraphrased as 'those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors are destined to repeat them' and 'those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it', among others.
Personally, I feel that in the not too distant future, Lewis, among others, will have cause to take note of Mr Santayana's warning, but will it be too late?