Formula One is an ever-changing sport. Throughout it’s existence the F1 grid has been chopped and changed with only a handful of teams being present since the early days of the sport. Most teams never die out as such but rather evolve from one brand to another. One such example of that is the progression of the Tyrrell Racing team into Mercedes AMG, with the Tyrrell to Mercedes story being one which brought multiple championships.
Tyrrell Racing: 1968-1998
The Tyrrell Formula one racing team entered the frame in 1968 after team founder Ken Tyrrell realised his dream of racing at the highest level. The sponsorship from Elf and Ford as well as a partnership with French automotive manufacturer Matra made this possible. Tyrrell had Jackie Stewart at their disposal, who was tipped to be a world-class driver. Stewart took his first world title in 1969 with the team which was a fantastic achievement for such a young brand.
The 1970’s proved even more fruitful for Tyrrell. They became full constructors having broken partnership from Matra in 1970. The Tyrrell 003 proved the teams most successful car claiming both the driver’s title for Jackie Stewart and the constructor’s title for the team in the following year. 1973 was another good year for Tyrrell. They just missed out on the constructors title but Scotsman Stewart made it a hat-trick of World titles. Tragedy also struck that year as young Frenchman Francois Cevert was killed at Watkins glen during the U.S Grand Prix.
The dawn of the turbo age in the late 70’s was to prove the downfall of Tyrrell. Without adequate funding the team lagged severely behind with their Cosworth Ford DVF containing no turbo power. Tyrrell’s last win came at the U.S Grand Prix in Detroit. Ken Tyrrell sold the team in fading health to British American Tobacco in 1998, which signalled the end of Tyrrell
British American Racing: 1999-2005
Tyrrell made way for B.A.R. officially in 1999. The team was heavily funded and managed to lure world champion Jacques Villeneuve from Williams. It seemed like a promising season was ahead for B.A.R. however the season was a complete failure. Villeneuve suffered 11 straight retirements with the team failing to register a single point.
Honda was then announced as the new engine supplier for B.A.R. for the 2000 season. The team progressed significantly with the Honda power behind them with a best finish of fourth. The team found its self in a limbo state between 2001 and 2002. The 2001 season probed a fairly average one but there were radical changes in 2002. A new team principal, David Richards came into place. In the 2002 season the team again struggled but promise was on the horizon.
In the 2003 championship British driver Jenson Button was brought to B.A.R. and Villeneuve left after contract negotiations broke down. But it was 2004 when the team experienced their best season. Button scored multiple podium finishes and a pole position at Imola. But it was not to last due to a shocking start to the 2005 season. The team were then disqualified from The San Marino Grand Prix for using illegal cars. At the end of 2005 Honda purchased a 100% stake in the team.
Honda F1 Racing Team: 2006-2008
Honda took full control of the former B.A.R team for the 2006 season. Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello joined Honda for the start of the season. Honda showed good pre-season promise with their RA106 proving very powerful. However reliability plagued the team. The final third of the season proved a good one but by then it was too little too late, despite grabbing an unlikely victory at the Hungaroring in tricky conditions.
Both the 2007 and 2008 seasons were woefully disappointing. The team failed to pick up any race wins over the course of the two seasons. Former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn was signed to the team. Despite this Honda wished to sell the team at the end of the season due to financial costs. Ross Brawn along with Chief Executive Nick Fry purchased the team for the 2009 season.
Brawn GP: 2009
At the start of the 2009 season Ross Brawn took control of Honda under the name Brawn GP. Button and Barrichello were retained as drivers. The team opted to use Mercedes as engine supplier thus marking the first time in 10 years that Honda would be absent from F1.
None the less Brawn’s short stint in F1 was a highly successful one. Button won 6 of the first 7 races and despite a shaky second half to the season he managed to claim the Driver’s World Championship. Brawn also collected the constructors title in what was the perfect first season for the team.
Daimler AG, owners of the Mercedes brand, purchased a 75% stake in the company at the end of the 2009 season. This marked a swift end to the Brawn brand.
Mercedes GP/AMG: 2010-Present
The Brawn brand was dissolved and re-branded as Mercedes GP for the 2010 season. Ross Brawn remained team principal however both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello left. They were replaced by the German duo of 7 time World Champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Schumacher remained until 2013 before being replaced by Lewis Hamilton. Rosberg earned the team their first victory since their return to F1 taking the chequered flag at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix. The team were also re-branded as Mercedes AMG for the 2012 season.
It was drastic regulation changes in 2014 that saw Mercedes rise to the top, however. The switch to Hybrid engines was well judged by Mercedes who were now well ahead of the pack in terms of pace. Lewis Hamilton claimed the 2014 world drivers title with the team easing to victory in the Constructor’s championship with one of the most dominant cars in history.
Main Photo by Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England – Tyrrel-Cosworth 001 via Wiki Commons
