2020 NACTOY Semi-finalists - Autoesque

2020 NACTOY Semi-finalists - Autoesque



Is the team determined to bounce back after two relatively disappointing races? The current leader Felipe Massa experienced two non-scoring rounds in the first two races and came back strongly. 鈥淭here are two main characteristics: the high-speed corners that typify the first half of the track require a good overall aerodynamic balance that enables the drivers to feel comfortable and confident with the car. The British Grand Prix marks the end of the first half of the season with a total of 18 races. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know about it being worth a second per lap, but being at your home grand prix does give an extra boost to your confidence because you know you鈥檙e getting more support. Both seats offer multi-stage heating and cooling, have the ability to independently recline and incorporate power lumbar support and lateral headrest adjustability. Indeed, the EcoSport was a nominee, but it failed to garner enough support.



You need to have enough confidence to attack the faster corners; the high-speed change of direction needs to be positive but shouldn鈥檛 be too sharp or too understeery. In fact, you need to watch the brake temperatures don鈥檛 drop too low because you鈥檙e not using them for much of the lap. The highly economical engines boast not only low fuel consumption but also long periods between oil changes. Good performance, low exhaust emissions, great fuel economy and low noise levels this latest generation of electronically injected CDI engines is changing consumers' dated perceptions about diesel engines. The 519 model鈥檚 dynamics were similar to our previous 鈥?鈥?series test vehicles, but the latest version of the aluminium three-litre V6 was even quieter and drove through the seven-speed auto. Though all automakers seem to be creating similar hybrid vehicles, Mercedes seems to be the leader in the diesel engine technology. The McLaren-Mercedes relationship has not always been easy and in 2005 Mercedes acquired AMG to be an in-house developer of high performance vehicles, which was much the same role as originally envisaged for McLaren. It goes without saying that everybody within the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team has a special place in their hearts for the Santander British Grand Prix.



Don鈥檛 you think that this is wishful thinking and that in the end Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will not struggle? The small space of a van dictates that there will be limited storage available. The reason being Mercedes cars are welded in 10000 places which don't allow any space for the loosening of bolts and nuts. If you have scored on average third places and six points in the first eight races you now are top of the ranking. 鈥淚t鈥檚 mixed. It is clear, that we as a team would have had the opportunity to score more than the current 58 points in the Constructors鈥?Championship. Without his own fault, Heikki lost at least as many points as he currently has - caused by a Safety Car period, by his accident in Spain, by starting last instead of fourth in Monaco etc. It is obvious that in the last two races Lewis had the speed to score a lot more than zero points.



The team arrives at the circuit fresh from three days鈥?testing at Silverstone: both Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen sampled numerous aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades and the team is upbeat about the improvements made to the MP4-23鈥檚 overall competitiveness. The race in Silverstone is sold out, which we feel our team and particularly Lewis Hamilton have something to do with. I have great respect for the circuit and for the drivers鈥?performance at Silverstone. Great Britain as well as Germany are enormously important markets for our title partner Vodafone and for Mercedes-Benz. The crew and passenger vans are the sort you often see being used as airport shuttles and other passenger hauling businesses. 鈥淚 see this differently. Is the team encouraged by the changes it has recently made to the MP4-23? 鈥淒efinitely. We鈥檝e had some difficult things happen to us in qualifying and the races but everyone within the team just continues to push themselves hard.



Twice in eight races we were able to set highlights with Lewis鈥檚 victories, in the first race in Melbourne and in the probably most noticed race of the year in Monaco. 鈥淪ilverstone is the first of two consecutive home races. I want to win the first race of the season, I want to win Monte Carlo - which I did for the first time this year - and I want to win my home grand prix. The 2019 CLS is still pretty fresh, having been officially revealed this month and, as is often the case, Mercedes-Benz will roll out a special edition for its first customers before the plain vanilla ones become available. What this means is you will be covered by a complete 12 month manufacturers guarantee for your own peace of mind. Mercedes-Benz is committed to taking part in this race; just look at the humongous center screen that the all-new 2020 S-Class will have.