Double interview with Ross brown and Toto Wolff

Presenting a new car Mercedes team principal Ross brown and head of Mercedes Motorsport Toto Wolff told about plans for the future and the rumors surrounding the team lately. . .
Question: Ross, manual Mercedes has undergone enormous changes. How will this affect the work of the team during the season?
Ross Brown: I think now we are starting to see the results of last year's changes. This car has affected all changes in the engineering team, which happened in the beginning of 2012, and recent changes in top management - the emergence of a team Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda - will not affect the speed W04, but will help us in the choice of development strategy.
Question: let's Talk about the car. What last year's problems have been resolved?
Ross Brown: It's simple: aerodynamics always plays an important role, and if you increase its effectiveness, and the chances of success safeline increase. In addition, we are now much better understand the operation of the exhaust system and suspension, and it has a huge impact on speed. When creating machines, we have focused on aerodynamic effektivnosti, and I am sure, intuition did not fail us (laughs).
Question: Many people believe that Mercedes too many technical Directors: Bob bell, Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis... How would you comment on the rumors about the transition in Mercedes Paddy Lowe?
Ross Brown: The current structure was designed in 2012, when the technical Director was Bob bell. The team of engineers are serious requirements, especially if we are talking about the car for the 2014 year. It is so very different from W04 that on these projects simultaneously employs two teams of engineers.
As a manufacturer of motors, we must pay great attention to the development of a new engine, which has to be perfectly matched to the chassis. The client team has to use what it gets from the automaker, and since Mercedes - factory team, we should start work on a new machine much earlier than the others to determine what kind of engine we need.

Parallel work on two projects of key importance. Ferrari quite some time ago announced that on its cars for 2013 and 2014 year there are two teams of engineers, and we did the same. So, the names contained in our organization, perhaps popular in the paddock, but this structure is necessary to work on two programs.
Question: How would you comment on the rumors about Paddy Lowe?
Ross Brown: I have nothing to say. This year he works at McLaren. At least, so said this team. I'm afraid I have nothing more to add.
Question: Toto, Paddy did not participate in the presentation of the McLaren. It seems that this year it will remain in Woking, but what will happen in 2014? Will you fight for it with the expectation of 2014, a year?
Toto WolffFirst of all I want to say this: I think a little unfair to talk about other teams during the presentation of our car. It is disrespectful towards the guys from Mercedes, because as they were laid. All the rumors about people who can join us, have nothing to do with reality, and in General just interfere. Paddy all well know, he is one of the most popular figures in the paddock. McLaren, like most other top teams interested in his services, but at this stage I have nothing to add to this. This year he will be in a McLaren, we want to concentrate on my work and to do everything in our power in 2013)
Question: Williams, where you worked before, bought the engines. Now your situation has changed dramatically - Mercedes supplies engines and wants to make a profit from this work. Are you sure that the new turbo V6 will actually appear in 2014?
Toto Wolff: Yes, I am 100% sure that the transition to the new engines in 2014 year will be held. Everything is already ready. Three automaker has made great progress in the work on the engines, maybe they will be joined by a fourth company. Good or bad, but the decision was made. This is an interesting engineering solution for the future. We must adapt to these changes.
Question: Ross, how will you develop relationships honey, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton?
Ross Brown: It is interesting to follow the development of their relationship. They are good friends. Of course, I know Nico is better than Lewis, but judging from what I've seen, they're both ambitious racers and real professionals. Nico and Lewis know, have United to work for the team progressed, although they will try each other to get ahead. We have an excellent team of drivers, and I expect both of them to the team.
Question: Maybe they will bring to machine different requirements?
Ross Brown: Yes, but you need to find the cause. I'm still not familiar with the style of piloting Lewis and his requirements to the car. We worked on the simulator - it helps to get an idea about the machine. Personally I doubt that the riders will be present too many challenges.
Question: Toto, you are a shareholder of the team. Do you plan in the future to increase the proportion of shares and, eventually, to buy the team?
Toto Wolff: I'm not going to buy shares. I was in a situation about which you can only dream of - I went into manual factory team "Silver arrows". Mercedes-Benz is the majority shareholder, his goal is to find a partner who has assumed responsibility for the leadership team.
Head of Mercedes Motorsport, I moved to Brackley to live closer to the team. So, I have no plans in the near future to buy shares. The Mercedes-Benz long-term contract, and it is very important to me. I'm pretty sure we are in a few years will maintain the current shareholder structure. Over the last ten years with this team a lot has happened, so let's restore calm and get to work.
Question: Ross, compared with rivals, your new car looks very conservative. This is a consequence of the fact that the previous bold decisions have failed?
Ross Brown: It was not done on purpose. However, we have changed the structure of the Department of aerodynamics, we sought to create a competitive and predictable machine. They analyzed several concepts as a result, this machine has significantly improved aerodynamics, and that's the main thing. We are confident in their ideas, but, of course, the real test awaits us in Melbourne - only there you will be able to assess the work of teams, including Mercedes.
We have not put on the car a new front spoiler - it will appear this week. We are preparing some more interesting decisions, and in Australia will understand they can count on.
Question: Passive double DRS corresponds to the regulations, but the adjustment will require serious effort. Do you plan to use it on the first test?
Ross BrownTo achieve the optimal system is extremely difficult. I would not say that we have already found the perfect solution, but the following tests will carry out some work.
Question: Lewis said that in the beginning of the season the team is inferior to almost second leaders. To reduce this lag is very difficult. How will you act, if the British Grand Prix will see that the gap has not changed?
Ross Brown: In the course of the season will inevitably have to prioritize, but to build such a distant forecasts difficult. We are working on two programs, and of course, the resources will be allocated between projects, depending on the success.
The team has no plans to reduce the pace of work on the machine 2013 - we want to maximise this season. Last year we had a successful first race, but in the second half of the championship results deteriorated. We don't want this year the situation was repeated. Realizing that to improve the results is not possible, we will review the priorities. However, our initial plan is to work on W04 until the last race.
Question: is Your real goal for the 2013 year?
Ross Brown: To make progress. We want to move forward. It's hard to say how big will this step is dependent on the work of other teams, but we will certainly try to improve the situation. Our current situation is unacceptable. The goal of the team is to move forward, and I'm sure we will do it. Restructuring must be results this year.