Mercedes: Skipping first test the right choice

Mercedes GP is confident that it has made the right decision in delaying the launch of its 2012 car till the second test.
However, its main rivals i.e. Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari will  launch their car at first test in Jerez. 

Nobert Haug, vice president of Mercedes' motorsport division spoke on behalf of his team

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 "If you have half-a-year's timeframe to develop a car, then 10 days can be crucial," Haug told Autosport.  
"That was our decision. We want to test the proper car, finalised in each and every detail. That's why we need development time. 

"It's important to point out that it was a conscious decision. I know that all of the other teams will be there with their car [at Jerez] but this is not unusual. Other teams that have been in a catch-up process have decided to go run first at the second test, so this is not a new event.

"We fully appreciate that the other teams have different plans and are ready at the first test. But we are not delayed, we are just following our process, and then we will see what the outcome will be."

Haug confirmed that the team would run its 2010 car with new parts and Pirelli tyres. This means that Brackley based squad will be able to test MGP03 for only eight days.

"We will have a couple of parts to learn from at the first test. We can use the new generation of tyres, which is a good way to draw a baseline because you have the data with the old tyres to compare it to.

"We need to learn more about the behaviour of the tyres on our car."