Mercedes GP launched their 2010 livery today in Stuttgart.
This is the first time Mercedes have raced in F1 under their own steam (rather than riding on the back of another team) since 1955. In the pre-war years, Mercedes dominated grand prix racing and did so again in 1954 and 1955, before pulling out in wake of a crash at Le Mans which killed 88 spectators. In 1954 they became the only team to score a 1-2 on their debut... until Brawn went and did the same in Melbourne last year.
Underneath the silver paint (which is lighter than McLaren's) this car is a Brawn. It's last year's championship-winning car, but the new Mercedes GP W01 ('W' stands for Wagen) will debut at the Valencia test next week.
Schumacher is hugely motivated, this is clear. But we shouldn't overlook Nico Rosberg, who will be learning alongside the most experienced winner of all time. Nico is a very smart kid, and there's no doubt he views this as an opportunity. "When I win in Bahrain..." he said last week, which is just the kind of purposefully big-headed line his dad might have come out with. He's a chip off the old block.
When Mercedes came into F1 in '54 they had Fangio, aged 42, and Moss, aged 24. It's like a mirror image - Schumi is 41 and Rosberg 24. Fangio and Moss had huge respect for each other, and raced like father and son.
Perhaps we'll see a similar relationship between Schumacher and Rosberg. Frankly, I doubt it. I don't think they'll give an inch, and that's what's going to make this team - a team which should have a car that can challenge for the championship - so incredibly fascinating.
Nico has said he has nothing to lose, and that's the right attitude to have. Michael does, and he knows that better than anyone. It's going to be a shock for Michael to race alongside a team mate who is not a lapdog. Michael excelled at Ferrari and Benetton because they gave him a comfort zone. But when there was pressure, Michael was not averse to making some pretty rookie mistakes. We all tend to think of him as some kind of ice man, but Michael is hypersensitive and could crack if there's pressure from the other side of the garage.
It's Ross Brawn's responsibility to make sure this doesn't happen, and that will be difficult if he's to ensure equality.
