Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Damiler AG which owns Mercedes-Benz, believes his company’s works team will have a “good shot” at the 2014 Formula 1 title, but admitted this season might not meet expectations.
The German is hopeful that key management changes during the 2012 season, a new driver in the form of Lewis Hamilton and the hiring of Niki Lauda, will come together in 2014 and produce their ultimate goal.
“Even though we had one win last year, you cannot say we were in a position to be considered winners everywhere,” Zetsche is quoted as saying by AutoCar at the Detroit Motor Show. “So that is why we have made changes – a new driver, a new chairman and more to come.
“For Mercedes [our] expectations must be that we are up there at every race competing for victory.
“What we saw [in 2012] was that the engine was the best, or up with the best, and drivers who were among the best. The real problem lay with the chassis and we are working on that.”
The 59-year-old doesn’t expect the changes to yield immediate results, and is therefore not expecting much from 2013, but he fully expects the team to deliver the following season.
“The coming season will probably not allow us to show the full effect of the changes,” he added, “but in 2014 we will have a good shot at the championship, especially with the new engine rules. Optimising the chassis and engine for that opportunity is key.”
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