Mercedes MGP W01

Mercedes MGP W01

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Mercedes GP
Designer(s)	Thomas Fuhr (Managing Director) Kevin Taylor (Chief Designer) Loïc Bigois (Head of Aerodynamics) Craig Wilson (Head of Vehicle Engineering & Dynamics)[1]
Predecessor	Brawn BGP 001
Successor	MGP W02
Technical specifications[2]
Chassis	Moulded carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Wishbone and pushrod activated torsion springs and rockers
Suspension (rear)	as front
Engine	Mercedes-Benz FO 108X 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90° V8, limited to 18,000 RPM naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	Mercedes seven-speed semi-automatic carbon-fibre sequential gearbox with reverse gear hydraulic activation
Weight	620 kg (1,367 lb) (including driver)
Fuel	Petronas
Tyres	Bridgestone BBS Wheels (front and rear): 13"
Competition history
Notable entrants	Mercedes GP Petronas
Notable drivers	3. Michael Schumacher 4. Nico Rosberg
Debut	2010 Bahrain Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 19 0 0 0

The Mercedes MGP W01 was a Formula One motor racing car designed and built by the Mercedes GP Petronas team for the 2010 season and was driven by the returning seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. The car was revealed at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia at the first official test of the year on February 1.^[3] The team's silver livery was officially unveiled at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on January 25, 2010 on the chassis of a Brawn BGP 001 following Mercedes' purchase of the championship-winning team of 2009.^[4]

The team's achievements in their first season did not come close to those of Brawn the previous year, with the Mercedes battling Renault for the title of 'best of the rest' behind the leading three teams of Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull. Rosberg finished on the podium three times, at Sepang, Shanghai and Silverstone. Schumacher's best finishes were three fourth places. He did not score a race win, podium, pole position or fastest lap for the first time since his début season in 1991, and also scored the worst finish of his F1 career at Valencia, where he finished fifteenth. Schumacher was penalised for dangerous driving after forcing his former Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello towards the pit wall at 180 mph (290 km/h). At the last race in Abu Dhabi Schumacher spun while trying to overtake Rosberg and was hit by Vitantonio Liuzzi's Force India.

The team finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship, with 214 points.

Nico Rosberg finished on the podium at the Malaysian Grand Prix; Mercedes' first podium as a works entry since 1955.

Some parts of the W01 were revised as part of the upgrade at the Spanish GP; increasing the wheelbase of the car to improve the weight distribution, as well as changing the engine cover design. The shorter wheelbase was used again at the next grand prix, deemed more suitable for the narrow streets of the Monaco GP circuit.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Points	WCC
2010	Mercedes GP Petronas	Mercedes FO 108X V8	B		BHR	AUS	MAL	CHN	ESP	MON	TUR	CAN	EUR	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	KOR	BRA	ABU	214	4th
				Schumacher	6	10	Ret	10	4	12	4	11	15	9	9	11	7	9	13	6	4	7	Ret
				Rosberg	5	5	3	3	13	7	5	6	10	3	8	Ret	6	5	5	17†	Ret	6	4

^† Driver failed to finish, but was classified as they had completed >90% of the race distance.

References

1. ^ Straw, Edd (2010-02-04). "Mercedes MGP W01". Autosport 199 (5): pp. 44–47. 
2. ^ "Mercedes GP W01". f1technical.net (F1 Technical). 2010-02-01. http://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/966. Retrieved 2010-02-02. 
3. ^ Noble, Jonathan (2010-02-01). "Mercedes rolls out new car at Valencia". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81167. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 
4. ^ Elizalde, Pablo (2010-01-25). "Mercedes GP unveils car colours". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81045. Retrieved 2010-02-01. 

External links