Norbert Haug denies being made a scapegoat for Mercedes F1 failures – Formula 1 news
Norbert Haug, who has recently decided to step down from his post at Mercedes, has denied that he is being made a scapegoat for the team’s failure to succeed in F1 over the last three years.
In an interview with Germany’s Bild Daily, Haug said that he is not being pressurized into making any sacrifice instead he is taking the responsibility.
“If I had nothing to do with our failures in the last three years, then I would have nothing to do with our victory in China this year,” said Haug. “And I wouldn’t like that.”
Recently another German former F1 driver, Hans-Joachim Stuck, had said that Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, should be taking the responsibility for the weaker car and the F1 failures of the team.
Haug added, “Because over 22 years I have borne the overall responsibility for motor sport at Mercedes, not Ross Brawn. I am ultimately his superior.”
About the car Haug said, “The basis of our car was good, but the development was poor to very poor.”
Haug has been the president in charge of all Mercedes activity over the past 22 years and had recently announced his retirement from the post leaving the reasons unclear. Later on, when speculations started to arise that former F1 champion and Mercedes new
non-executive chairman, Niki Lauda, might have a hand in this decision, Haug denied any such thing and admitted that his reason for stepping down was the failures of the Mercedes AMG.
Mercedes AMG was formed in 2010 and was the first F1 squad of the company since 1955 but so far it has failed to achieve any significant success despite having the legend of Michael Schumacher with them. Their only Grand Prix victory was in the 2012 F1 season
at China courtesy of Schumacher’s younger teammate, Nico Rosberg. Schumacher also retired from F1 at the end of the season after failing in his attempt to win an eighth championship with the team.
Many have responded to Haug’s sudden exit from the team which include Head of Mercedes-Benz cars, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, saying that he is thankful for his extraordinary commitment to the company; and Schumacher stating that this will leave a massive hole in
the world of motorsports.
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