The new Formula 1 season could be the most exciting in a long time. In the T-Online interview, ex-Mercedes Motor sports director Norbert Haug analyzes what fans can expect.
Formula 1 with the Grand Prix of Australia starts the new season on Sunday (from 5 a.m. in the live ticker at T-Online). Excitement is guaranteed: After the Red Bull dominance of the past few years has been crumbled last season, McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes will give four teams opportunities for racing wins and possibly even the World Cup title.
Norbert Haug will also observe the title fight carefully. From 1990 to 2012, the 72-year-old was Motor sports director of Mercedes-Benz and, among other things, shaped the events in the royalty class of motorsport with McLaren-Mercedes and later also to the Mercedes factory team. Mika Häkkinen also became world champion in legendary duels under Haug’s leadership in legendary duels. The start of Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 career and its first World Cup title also fall into the Haug era.
In conversation with T-Online, Haug looks ahead of the new season and talks about the favorites, Lewis Hamilton’s attempt to break Michael Schumacher’s World Cup record, as well as the condition of Formula 1 in Germany and the future of Mick Schumacher.
T-online: Mr. Haug, the new Formula 1 season is coming up and McLaren goes into the new year as a top favorite. Are you pleased that the traditional team, which is also your old racing team, is fighting for titles again? And above all: could also revive the traditional duel with Ferrari?
Norbert Haug: In 2024, McLaren undoubtedly took a very gratifying development. From the last start of 2023 at the end of the season 2024, it is almost breathtaking and happens very rarely in Formula 1. The fact that this was achieved with the identical drive of the Mercedes work team makes this success even more remarkable. And: yes, McLaren-Mercedes undoubtedly starts the new season as a favorite, which I am very happy for for nostalgic reasons; And should there be a prestige stamp McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari again like at the then weddings of Formula 1, that would certainly not be a treat for me.
Last year McLaren-Pilot Lando Norris mental weaknesses were said. Do you think he has the format to offer drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton? Is Verstappen’s dominance finally over?
Lando Norris is strong enough to win, just like his team -mate Oscar Piatri, both of them have proven. However, I would not recommend anyone in the field without Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton can only be seen as a passenger after moving to Ferrari. If he has the car and the team, he will drive around the World Cup title.
Last year McLaren had both drivers ride against each other deep into the season among the so -called “Papaya Rules”. Do you think that is right or should you commit to a clear number one?
I think it is absolutely correct that this at that time by Ron Dennis (ex-team boss, editor’s note) at McLaren and Marchor practiced at Mercedes has survived as a “papaya rules”. In my eyes, racing is exactly like that, I have never kept anything from stalls, even if their non -application cost us world championship.
Mercedes has not only lost its dominance in recent years, but has now also lost Lewis Hamilton. What do you trust the silver arrows with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli?
I very much regret that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton separated, and would never have expected it. In 2025, Mercedes must undoubtedly prove that they are able to do as much as McLaren with the same drive. In my opinion, they have the drivers.