2012 - Formula 1 - Hungarian Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in 10th place yesterday, with Michael Schumacher retiring after 58 laps.

• Nico made up three places on his grid position of 13th with an option/prime/prime strategy

• Michael started from the pit lane, picked up a drive-through penalty and was forced to stop again with a puncture

• He followed an option/prime/prime strategy before the team retired his car after 58 laps

Nico Rosberg

We've had a difficult weekend here in Budapest, and just haven’t been quick enough. In the race yesterday, I had a good start and was able to gain three positions by the end, so I got the most out of it. Being happy with one point is not an ideal situation though. We need to find out why we are off the pace at the moment. I hope that we can do better in Spa after the break and we will push hard to make the improvements necessary.

Michael Schumacher

Yesterday was obviously one of those races that you will not look back at for very long. Our engine temperatures were very high before the start, and when the yellow lights came on, I switched the engine off. After I had started from the pit lane, I picked up a penalty and then a puncture. So all in all, the beginning of the race was not very pleasant for us. Everything you do not need came together. We did not have full telemetry before the start and during the period of overheating, and this is why we finally decided to retire so as not risk any damage which might make us suffer in the next race. Now we can now check the car properly before the break and prior to Spa. This weekend is not one to remember, but then there are weekends like this which you can only accept. I am sure we will be looking much better in the next races to come.

Ross Brawn

Nico did a good job yesterday, and 10th place is about where the car was, if not a little better. He drove very well to make the tyres last which is a positive sign, and a good strategy saw him pick up places. Michael had a much more eventful race. He started from the pit lane, incurred a penalty and then had a puncture so it wasn’t exactly an ideal start to the afternoon. During that period, we lost all telemetry on his car, and subsequently had various problems during the race which we weren’t entirely sure what they were, therefore we decided to retire the car. We are clearly not as competitive as we want to be and, whilst we got everything out of the car yesterday, we need to find more performance and lap time.

Norbert Haug

After a problematic qualifying where we did not make it into Q3 for the first time this season, we could not expect a good race result yesterday. After his first stop on lap 15, Nico was already 26 seconds down to the leader, and he lost another 25 seconds during the following 52 laps. About half a second a lap - a gap that we experienced already at the previous races in Silverstone and Hockenheim. So it is very clear that we have a lot of work ahead of us, and I am convinced that we will improve our performance during the remaining nine races. After his start from the pit lane and his drive-through penalty, the team brought Michael in as a precaution with 11 laps to go. Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes on their 75th win with a Mercedes engine in the last 15 years.

2012 GERMAN GRAND PRIX – RACE

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg finished the German Grand Prix in seventh and tenth places respectively.

Michael Schumacher

There are nicer ways to finish a home race than falling back from third to seventh place. I squeezed everything I could out of the car but, unfortunately, that´s everything we could manage yesterday. It´s a pity because I would have loved to have given something more to all our Mercedes-Benz colleagues who were supporting us yesterday. Before this weekend, we expected to be racing between P5 and P7, and of course fifth place would have been the better option, but seventh was our maximum in these circumstances. I got a decent start and the short battle with Sebastian was fun. After that, unfortunately, there weren´t too many highlights, apart from setting the fastest lap, perhaps. However, we couldn´t maintain that pace for very long. Now we have to look forwards and do our maximum at the next race.

Nico Rosberg

It feels ok to have scored one point yesterday after such a bad qualifying yesterday and starting right at the back. We had a good strategy and I had great fun out there at times overtaking so many people to move from 21st to 10th place. Some of the guys I had to overtake a couple of times and there were some nice maneuvers. Thanks to our fans here in Hockenheim for their fantastic support, even though the weekend didn’t really run to plan. Now I look forward to Budapest in just seven days and hope for a better weekend, and we will keep working very hard towards this.

Ross Brawn

We ran the race as well as we could yesterday, in the knowledge that we would have to make three pit stops. Some of our rivals on two-stop strategies faded towards the end but the drop-off was not sufficient for our drivers to be able to take advantage on fresher tires. Michael and Nico put in consistent performances, pulled off good overtaking moves and we delivered six clean pit stops. Our strategy enabled Nico to climb eleven positions from his starting place, while Michael finished in seventh place for the second time in two weeks. We made the right decisions this afternoon but, after 67 laps, Michael found himself 29 seconds behind the winner. That shows we need to find more pace from the car.

Norbert Haug

Of course it is not pleasant starting third and coming home seventh. We were convinced that a three-stop strategy would be the fastest race for us, and we will evaluate whether a two-stop strategy could have brought us more. In any case, a podium was out of reach for us yesterday and we certainly need further improvements. Nico put in a great drive, gaining 11 places from 21st to 10th. Like in Silverstone, our best-placed car came home roughly 30 seconds behind the winner, so we are missing about half a second per lap. We are now looking forward to doing a better job next weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

India gets “Ready to B”

India gets “Ready to B” - Mercedes-Benz gives a sneak peek of India’s first Sports Tourer: The B-Class

• Mercedes-Benz launches “Ultimate Touring Trail” – A property wherein adventure enthusiasts can drive down in B-Class with like minded celebrities and experience adventure sports like Skydiving, Canoeing & Deep Sea exploration
• The first drive experience of Mercedes-Benz B-Class was presented at the Buddh International Circuit, demonstrating the sporty ride of the car
• The B-Class combines sportiness, refinement and practicality with young aggressive design language and is aimed at creating a new segment in the luxury car market in India
• Customers will also be able to see the car in all dealerships across the country and pre- book before launch.

New Delhi: Mercedes-Benz India today unveiled its soon to be launched and much awaited product, the New B-Class, at the Buddh International Circuit. The B-Class is Mercedes-Benz’s pioneering product in the Sports Tourer segment. The car was unveiled by Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India in the presence of Mr. Debashis Mitra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India and Genelia D’Souza.  She will be joined by Ritesh Deshmukh. Kalki Koechlin & Gaurav Kapoor in the “Ultimate Touring trail” (UTT) which shall be an adventure trail for consumers to drive the B-Class to exotic locations and explore the B side of life, that is – Adventure. The unveiling of the B-Class was followed by a First Drive Experience for the media.

Mr. Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India explains: “The B-Class opens a new segment of Sports Tourer in the Indian Motoring landscape. The introduction of the B-class continues Mercedes-Benz’s legacy as pioneers in the auto Industry. The rich array of equipment, inspiring design, coupled with the highest standards of safety and comfort, makes the New B-Class an extremely appealing product for the adventurous new generation.”

The B-Class offers the versatility of an MUV, ride quality of a sedan and dynamic performance of an SUV. The B-Class makes a definite statement about a lifestyle characterized by adventure, thrill and sophistication – this passion is of significant importance as is style and individuality to the consumer. With its aggressive styling, state-of-the-art technology and high safety standards, the New B-Class meets the needs of young individuals looking for a car that is sporty yet retaining the essence of style. The B- Class Sports Tourer is for those who are young at heart and enjoy that adrenaline rush over a long full throttle adventurous drive.

Mr. Debashis Mitra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Mercedes-Benz India commented “Rapid globalization and consequent outbound travel of Indians have given them a taste of luxury and adventure. This has sparked a demand for a luxurious touring vehicle best suited for those who are young at heart. Mercedes-Benz India aims to tap into this demand with the introduction of the B-Class Sports Tourer. This vehicle will provide the highest levels of sporty experience and is ideal to suit the taste of the growing number of Sports Touring aficionados in India.” He further added “The B-Class will herald a new segment in the Indian Automotive market. It offers an aviation-inspired dashboard design, sporty 7G DCT gearbox and highly sophisticated trims and equipment continuing Mercedes-Benz’s philosophy of “Best or Nothing”.

The “Ultimate touring trial” would be a platform wherein adventure enthusiasts can upload their pictures & get selected to be part of an experience which they generally dream of. Aggressive Below the Line activities linked to adventure and travel in high consumer traffic areas of the Country have been planned. The prototype vehicle is on display for the customers across the dealership network in the country to provide a first look. Mercedes-Benz is also tying up with several operators to provide customized adventure packages aimed at engaging the target audiences. This would be accompanied by a niche ”Only Digital” advertising campaign to introduce the Sports Tourer segment to the nation.

The world beckons. Don’t trail behind.

Work life and its routines more often than not get the better of us.

There's a world out there that beckons to be explored. All it takes is that first bold step. The life of an explorer is riddled with the unknown, the constant notion of not knowing what lies ahead. Only those who venture off the beaten track get to witness the world in all its splendour. Mercedes-Benz India celebrates the explorer in you with its Ultimate Touring Trails Contest. This is a contest that fuels the adventurer in you, driving you to experience the bolder side of life.


Have it in you to battle out the waves as you river raft? Want to scorch the sky as you sky dive? Thirsting to discover new depths as you scuba dive? The Ultimate Touring Trails Contest is for you. This tour will take you on an adventure like never before. Experience breath-taking locations and challenging adventure sports with your favourite celebrities. Meet your favourite stars including Reitesh & Genelia Deshmukh, Kalki Koechlin & Gaurav Kapoor as they push their limits and yours with these sports. Visit our website www.readytob.in to sign up for the tour now.


Think you want to take your own tour and conquer the world on your terms? It's time to take to the road with India's first Sports Tourer the new B-Class from Mercedes-Benz India . Get Ready to B!

Are you Ready to B?

A car is not just a mode of transportation; not anymore at least. It’s a reflection of your lifestyle and personifies the personality of the consumer. It’s about you and how you live your life. Work or  leisure, each car has its own role. There are cars which drive you to work and then there are others which take your mind off it. If you are fond of road trips and travel, we have just the perfect car for you.

Adventure and travelling have a new meaning in the lives of today’s generation and acts as a good means of rejuvenation. The number of adventure enthusiasts are on the rise in India and is not restricted to the younger generation anymore. We love going for road trips and like to carry our world with us. Be it a weekend getaway or a long drive, this car is for the adventure seeking, for those who believe in style and substance, those who enjoy travelling and love touring. Its all about enjoying the drive, having fun, recharging your batteries, spending time with your loved ones and living your life your way.

The car's stylish design and sporty looks will turn heads wherever you go and is bound to get you noticed. It boasts of luxurious interiors which are high on quality, comfortable to use and has the space to meet the needs of the entire family with abundant room to carry your luggage and what you like. It is intelligent and understands the importance of safety and offers world class safety features. This car has the driving dynamics to put a smile on your face. Even after delivering such performance it is extremely fuel efficient and cares for the environment with reduced emissions. 
This is what we call Sports Touring and we at Mercedes-Benz are set to open up an entirely new segment in India. Only one car slots in here, the all new ‘B-Class’ and it fits the bill perfectly as India’s first ‘Sports Tourer’. It will be here soon, keep watching for more.

2012 – Santander British Grand Prix - Silverstone

Michael Schumacher finished the British Grand Prix in seventh place with Nico Rosberg coming home in 15th.

• Michael ran a two-stop strategy, running option/prime/prime, stopping on laps 12 and 34
• Nico also made two stops, running prime/prime/option, with stops on laps 15 and 37

Michael Schumacher

“We achieved what was possible for us today, and we have to be satisfied with that. We were pretty competitive towards the end of the race, but overall we knew that the characteristics of this circuit wouldn't suit us in normal conditions - we definitely could have done better in the wet. Even so, we managed to score a few points, which can be important for the team. Our attention now turns to Hockenheim, our next home circuit, where things should look better in any case. I can only say to all motorsport fans that we are counting on your support. Like always in Germany, it will be a very special weekend, and we want to celebrate it together with them. So make sure you're there in Hockenheim!”

Nico Rosberg

“The whole weekend just hasn’t gone to plan for me which is a bit unexpected and really disappointing. In the race today, I had a poor start and generally we just didn’t have the pace. Then a slow second pit stop held me up towards the end; so all in all, it really didn’t come together. Now we need to work hard to improve the car for our next home race at Hockenheim in two weeks’ time. Hockenheim is a completely different circuit to here which should suit our car better, and we will hope to put on a great show for all of our fans there.”

Ross Brawn

“We were the fourth best team today and that was reflected in Michael's seventh place finish on the road. Clearly, our pace in the dry didn't match our competitiveness yesterday in the wet, and we will have to take a good look at the data to find out why. Both drivers experienced graining on the option tire this afternoon - Michael in his first stint, Nico in the final one - and that certainly compromised our performance at important parts of the race. Michael drove solidly to seventh place, defending his position against the cars around him, and he was particularly competitive in the final stint - right up to setting his fastest time on the final lap of the race. Nico's race was compromised by a bad start, which left him 15th at the end of the first lap. From then, he was fighting an uphill battle, and it was hard to find clean air for him to run in, which further complicated things. We can take positives from our weekend - including our much-improved wet weather performance - and we will work hard to learn our lessons from today before Hockenheim.”

Norbert Haug

“Not a great result for us today after a good qualifying performance from Michael yesterday. We expected rain this afternoon and Michael's car was not ideally balanced during the first half of the race. Michael's lap times in the second half were much better compared to the fastest cars at the front and he finally finished 7th after 52 laps, 30 seconds behind winner Mark Webber, after overtaking Lewis Hamilton with five laps remaining. Nico started 11th and lost four places during lap one which prevented him from scoring points today. We now are looking forward to our next home race in two weeks at Hockenheim, where we will welcome the spectators with a very special, cost-free programme at the Mercedes Grandstand.”

Our passion connects us.

Mercedes-Benz India does a live webcast on mb. Connect!

Recently, Mercedes Benz India added another first to its name. We are the first automobile company in the country to talk directly to our customers and those who admire the brand, through a live webcast. We took this initiative to give you an insider's perspective of what it takes to make these dream machines a reality. We shared some lesser known facts of our cars and discussed the complexities of the cutting-edge technology that brings the fascination alive. 

The mb. Connect! event was conducted through a live stream. The questions were fielded by Mr. Debashis Mitra – Head of Marketing & Sales, Mercedes-Benz India. We sorted through over 500 questions submitted to us and got some interesting insights from Mr. Mitra as he shared his immense knowledge of the brand. 

We will bring you more such interactive sessions where you can connect with important people behind the scenes who share your passion for Mercedes-Benz India. 

To engage with Mercedes-Benz India, just log on to www.mbconnect.in.

Thriller of a race, final lap, final corner: Jamie Green wins

• Fourth Norisring win for Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé)
• Tenth Mercedes victory in a row at the Norisring and 168th triumph in 347 DTM races since 1988
• Championship leader Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) moves 18 places up the field after no-fault spin to extend lead in standings
• Second place in championship for Green
• Mercedes-Benz maintains lead in all three classifications – drivers, teams and manufacturers
• Five C-Coupés finish in Top 10
  

Jamie Green (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) won the fifth DTM race of the 2012 season in Nuremberg by a margin of 0.687 seconds, after overtaking Martin Tomczyk (BMW) in spectacular style on the latest corner at the final lap. This was Green’s eighth victory in his DTM career and his fourth at the Norisring, i.e. half of his winner’s trophies have been collected at this one venue (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012). It was also the Englishman’s 19th podium in 79 DTM outings.

The Norisring fixture has proved to be the most productive on the race calendar for Mercedes-Benz. Green’s latest win was also the 15th for Mercedes on this street circuit in Nuremberg and the tenth in succession. Since the DTM series was revived in the year 2000, Mercedes-Benz drivers have won twelve out of 14 races staged at the Norisring (a win rate of 85.71%). Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz has now won 168 DTM races since first fielding a works team in 1988.

By finishing fourth, Gary Paffett (THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) has boosted his championship points tally to 95 and further consolidated his lead in the standings to 26 points ahead of second-placed Jamie Green. Paffett’s THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank outfit leads the team standings on 119 points, while Mercedes-Benz tops the constructors’ standings on 211 points.

A total of five C-Coupé drivers finished in the Top 10; apart from Green and Paffett, David Coulthard (DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé), Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG C-Coupé) and Robert Wickens (stern AMG Mercedes C-Coupé) secured positions five, eight and nine respectively. Coulthard and Wickens achieved their best ever result so far in the DTM.

Roberto Merhi (Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) was 13th, Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) and Susie Wolff (TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) did not finish.

Jamie Green produced the fastest race lap, 54.451 seconds. For race winner Green, this was the 13th fastest lap in his DTM career and his third this season. Since 1988, Mercedes-Benz drivers have posted the fastest lap in some 165 races, including 16 at the Norisring.

Overall, 135.000 fans attended the DTM race weekend in Nuremberg.