Interview with Norbert Haug: « BMW Wants to Be the Best! »

Less than a week before the first race of the Formula 1 World Championship in Australia at the Melbourne circuit, Norbert Haug (director of Mercedes) reflects on the current situation against the backdrop of the financial crisis particularly affecting car manufacturers.

There are talks that Mercedes-Benz and BMW are working together in certain areas of the automobile market due to the financial crisis. Is this feasible in Formula 1?

« Automobile competition at the highest level is the meaning and essence of Formula 1. The sport is made for spectators, and they want to see which brand is the best, BMW or Mercedes-Benz. We have been since 2000, both in terms of victories and in terms of world championship records. But there is no doubt that BMW wants to improve, I consider them to be very strong. »

Who will be the first contender for this season: Ferrari or BMW?

« After the tests, it appears that Brawn GP is the best-positioned team, and we are delighted that they are our client using one of our engines. »

Will Lewis Hamilton be able to approach races more calmly with his title?

Formula 1 races must constantly be approached with the highest concentration, otherwise everything goes awry. It is clear that Lewis can be very satisfied with what he has accomplished after only 35 races. I think this gives him even more strength and serenity. But nothing will be handed to him on a platter in the future. The world championship title will not bring him any bonuses. We will need to adapt to the test results, and this means that we will be in Melbourne in the last third of the starting grid.

After Ron Dennis’s withdrawal, will Mercedes-Benz increase its 40% stake in McLaren?

« We are on the right track to always stay ahead in Formula 1. As a manufacturer, we strive for cost reduction, so for now, I see no need for change. We explicitly want to follow the path of economy, which means that budgets for the coming years must be halved. In 2009, we will have two teams using our engines. Thus, with the money collected, we will be able to relieve our own budget. »

Are pilots’ salaries not too high in view of the crisis? Shouldn’t Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen reassess their earnings?

« Anything that might be decided in this area would surely not be publicly discussed. »