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McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari call for unfreezing F1 engines

Formula One is a hugely expensive sport. Not only do you have enormous salaries and logistical expenses, as you would in any other sport, but each team also spends huge sums developing their own chassis from the ground up – and so too do the participating automakers in developing the engines. One of the ways the series organizers mitigate those costs is by freezing development. So once the new crop of V6 turbo hybrid powertrains were developed, that was it. But now three of the of the sport's leading teams are calling on the FIA to unfreeze engine development. Their reason? Unfair advantage. There's little question that Mercedes did the best job of developing its "power unit" to meet the new regulations that took effect at the beginning of this past season. That's how the Mercedes team won all but three of the grands prix this season and finished with at least one car on the podium at every single race. It's also a big part of how the teams that bought their engines from Mercedes this season managed to consistently outperform the other non-works-supported teams. That clear advantage is why Red Bull, Ferrari and now McLaren are calling for engine development to be unfrozen. Their argument is that, under the current locked-down status quo, their engine suppliers (Renault, Ferrari and Honda, respectively) cannot possibly catch up. So unless the FIA and Formula One Management want the next few seasons to be the kind of absolute blow-outs that this past season was, these leading teams argue, the powers that be are going to have to make some changes. For its part, Mercedes naturally counters that unfreezing engine development would send costs spiraling out of control. But then of course it stands to lose the most by re-opening engine development. If those three teams, however, closely intertwined as they are with the three other engine suppliers participating in next year's championship, manage to solicit enough support from the other customer teams and bring the matter to a vote, Mercedes may very well find itself out-numbered. News Source: ESPNImage Credit: Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Motorsports Ferrari McLaren Mercedes-Benz F1 engine

McLaren Racing will return to Mercedes F1 engines from 2021

SOCHI, Russia — McLaren will be reunited with Mercedes engines from the 2021 season as the former champions go back to using the German manufacturer's power units in their bid to return to the top. The Woking-based team are currently supplied by Renault, having joined forces with the French company last year. They will see out that deal, which runs until the end of 2020, before making the switch back to Mercedes as part of a long-term agreement until at least 2024. "We are delighted to welcome McLaren back to the Mercedes-Benz racing family with this new power unit supply agreement," said Mercedes' motorsports head Toto Wolff in a joint statement with McLaren issued at the Russian Grand Prix on Saturday. "We hope that this new long-term agreement marks another milestone for McLaren as they aim to take the fight to the sport's top teams, including our Mercedes works team." The McLaren-Mercedes partnership initially ran from 1995 to the end of 2014. It turned McLaren, enduring a slump after their heady days of dominance during the late 1980s and early 90s with Honda, into a force to be reckoned with once again. The combination won 78 races, a constructors' title and three drivers' titles with Mika Hakkinen (1998, 1999) and Lewis Hamilton who raced to his first Formula One title with the team in 2008. McLaren find themselves in a similar phase now, rebuilding after three dismal years with Honda, the Japanese manufacturer they rejoined forces with at the end of 2014 in a bid to recreate their dominance from 30 years ago. Fielding a fresh driver line up of British rookie Lando Norris and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, they have made big strides this year and are currently locked in a battle for fourth in the overall standings with Renault's works team. But they haven't won a race since the season-ending 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, when they were still powered by Mercedes. "Renault has been instrumental to our Formula One recovery plan and a fantastic partner to McLaren Racing," said Zak Brown, chief executive of McLaren Racing. "This agreement is an important step in our long-term plan to return to success in Formula One." McLaren's new deal with the German manufacturer, whose power units have set the benchmark in Formula One's turbo-hybrid era, coincides with a planned rules overhaul aimed at leveling the playing field and creating better racing. The shake-up could be just what a team like McLaren need to make that final jump up to the top.

Mercedes-Benz Museum introduces classic car sales

Mercedes is aiming to take the guesswork out of buying a classic car with its latest initiative. Instead of buying a classic Benz from a private owner, the public can now purchase directly from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The program is called "All Time Stars," and is split into three categories. Vehicles in the Premium Edition are in pristine condition, with low mileage, and fully restored by the Mercedes-Benz Classic division. Collectors Edition cars are guaranteed to be in tip-top shape both technically and aesthetically, but have some miles on the odometer and the patina to go with them. Finally the Drivers Edition are meant for everyday driving – fixer-uppers that "still offer potential for further restoration work." Regardless of their category, each vehicle that passes through the program is subject to an extensive 160-point inspection. The process identifies any issues, and any modifications to the vehicle's original condition that may have been carried out over the course of its history. At the moment, the museum is highlighting three examples up for sale. The oldest is a Type 630 Kompressor from 1929. The newest is an E320 convertible from 1995 with 31,000 miles on the odometer. In between is also a 280 SE sedan of 1973 vintage. Head to the program's website and you can also see examples like a '79 450 SEL, a '94 E60 AMG, a '92 500 SL, and a rare CLK-LM racer from 1998. There are several more that have already been sold through the program, and more to be added to the catalog in the near future. Mercedes-Benz Museum selling classic cars directly: 'All Time Stars': modern classics and vintage greats from Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart, Nov 05, 2015 The Mercedes-Benz Museum is now selling classic cars from all periods under the name All Time Stars. The complete range can be seen on the website alltime-stars.com. You can also view the vehicles in person at the Mercedes-Benz Museum and arrange the purchase there too. A team of sales consultants are on hand to provide detailed information and extensive descriptions of the vehicles in order to offer as much transparency as possible. Buying a classic car is a matter of trust. It has to be. Otherwise what is often supposed to be a dream come true may in fact turn sour. The All Time Stars by Mercedes-Benz aim to extend the brand's extensive quality commitment to the purchase of classic cars. The focus is on vehicles that are suitable for everyday driving.