Mercedes GP launch 2010 livery
Mercedes GP will present their drivers and their new Petronas liveried car to the media at their museum in Stuttgart
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 25, Jan 2010 10:34
By Adam Leveridge
At an event in Stuttgart on Monday, Mercedes-Benz officially launched the livery of the Mercedes Petronas RB1, the car that represents a comeback to the top flight of motorsport as a fully-fledged manufacturer for the first time since the days of the legendary Silver Arrows.
In September, the German executive car maker revealed it had bought a controlling stake in the champion Brawn GP squad and would be returning to formula one in 2010 as a works team for the first time since 1955.
Mercedes has been a feature in F1 since 1993 when it returned as an engine supplier for Sauber and then the McLaren team, with which it will remain an engine partner for the foreseeable future.
The team, now known as Mercedes GP, has signed an all-German driver line-up, hiring former Williams racer Nico Rosberg and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who makes a sensational comeback to the sport after three years in retirement.
The Brackley-based team, which secured both the drivers' and constructors' titles with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello last season, will be vying to defend their honour from the likes of McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari this season and are pining their hopes on the Mercedes Petronas RB1.
Schumacher, who turned 41 in January, said he is excited about the prospect of driving his new car at the first winter test of the year in Valencia next week, expressing commitment to the Mercedes GP team and to achieving their goals in 2010 and he said that driving for the German manufacturer, with whom he began his racing career, is like "the closing of a circle".
"This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated," said Schumacher.
"We have a very exciting combination at Mercedes GP. We have a World Champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia.
"I am convinced that the team will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go.
"Driving for Mercedes-Benz again is like the closing of a circle for me as I started my racing driver career with the three-pointed star on my helmet. This is another reason why I cannot wait for the competition to get underway."
Rosberg will run with the number four on his car in 2010 after allowing the superstitious Schumacher, who refuses to drive with an even number on his car, to take on the number three.
The young German, who makes the switch from the Williams team, said he is very proud to be working with Mercedes-Benz on their return to F1 and he is fired up and ready to get pre-season testing underway.
"Since joining the team in November, I have spent a lot of time at the factory in Brackley, at Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines in Brixworth and here in Stuttgart, which has given me the opportunity to settle in and get to know everyone," said Rosberg.
"I have seen how hard the team is working on the new car and I really can't wait for the opportunity to drive it for the first time in Valencia next week. I am looking forward to working with everyone at Mercedes GP and will give it my all to reward their fantastic efforts with good on-track results this season."
Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn added that he hopes to contribute to Mercedes' heritage by bringing more silverware back to the car maker's museum in Stuttgart.
"Our team have been working extremely hard throughout last year and over the winter on the development of the MGP W01 and everyone at the team is looking forward to the start of testing in Valencia next week," said Brawn.
"We have two excellent drivers in Nico and Michael, who will form one of the most exciting and one of the best partnerships on the grid, and with the support of Mercedes-Benz, Aabar and our new title partner Petronas plus all of our team partners, everyone is looking forward to the 2010 F1 season with anticipation."
And Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug said: "The new F1 season will offer challenges which will be bigger than ever before in over sixty years of the sport's history.
"We look forward to the cooperation with our drivers Nico Rosberg who has enormous capabilities and perspectives, and with seven-time world Champion Michael Schumacher who is no less motivated than at the time when he began his professional motor racing career with Mercedes-Benz and then made his first step into such a successful F1 career with our support."