Ze Krazee Germans

[Coventrysucks]

Here's a laugh:

According to German "news" source Bild, Ze Germans have suddenly decided, after Malaysia's 1, 2 for McLaren, that it should be the German national anthem that plays, instead of the British one when the "silver arrows" win.

Apparently this is backed by Hans-Joachim Stuck and some German fans who think that because the engine of the car is branded "Mercedes" (designed and built by Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines Ltd - a British company based in Northampton, owned by DaimlerChrysler), and one or two of the sponsors, are German; this should be reflected upon victory.

Quite why this is only an issue now, after a twelve year relationship between the two companies - including 45 wins, after which the British anthem was played - is slightly confusing.

It is also confusing as to why the fact that both McLaren and the actual company that makes the engines are British should be ignored, especially as no other constructor in F1 with an independent engine supplier would have, or ever has had, the anthem of that supplier played in preference to that of the constructor.

Bringing in sponsors as a determining factor for deciding nationality of a team is, aside from being hugely unconventional, deeply flawed in that no one country has a "majority" of sponsors - 5 each for the UK, Japan and Germany, (4 for the USA and Switzerland, 2 for Spain and 1 for China and Holland), although Vodaphone, McLaren's title sponsor is British, so that should really count for double or something. Alternatively, if you count the sponsors in terms of "importance" in building the car - composites experts being more "important" than a hotel- Japan comes out on top.

Is this some sort of joke that the Germans are having?

Is Hans-Joachim Stuck a complete idiot? ("that is really difficult to understand: The heart of the silver arrow comes from Swabia. The German value work makes the car only so strong. Thus also our national anthem must be played!")

Are they just jealous that they won't hear their anthem now that Schumi (the good one) isn't around?

If they want to claim that "Mercedes" winning engines are German, are they equally taking the blame for all the ones that have gone "pop" too?

[drakkie]

Maybe the Germans just hate your silly anthem ?

Plus McLaren wouldn't exist if it wasn't sponsored by mercedes. Didn't Mercedes even buy McLaren ? Aren't they the owner then ? Then it is a German company, based in the UK...

[Ferrer]

That is frankly pathetic.

[DBR9]

Mclaren is british thats that. the Germans can have this anthem although it won't last for long will be hearing the British anthem more often with Hamilton. Although i can see this leading to a big argument over the next few weeks.

[Jack_Bauer]

Originally Posted by drakkie

Plus McLaren wouldn't exist if it wasn't sponsored by mercedes. Didn't Mercedes even buy McLaren ? Aren't they the owner then ? Then it is a German company, based in the UK...

Mercedes did NOT buy McLaren. Last year they purchased a large share of the business, but nowhere near enough for them to claim ownership of the business. IIRC they own somewhere in the region of 40% of the shares. If they were to attempt to gain legal "ownership" of the firm and attempt to register it as a German company they would need to have at least 51% of the shares under European law. Until that time it will remain registered as a British company and as such will have the British national anthem played whenever they score a victory. No amount of whinging from Herr Stuck (who incidentally has nothing to do with McLaren-Mercedes, he is a BMW man) or the German tabloids will change that.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

Herr Stuck (who incidentally has nothing to do with McLaren-Mercedes, he is a BMW man)

Didn't he drive for Audi?

[Jack_Bauer]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Didn't he drive for Audi?

He currently drives a BMW Z4M Coupe in the VLN Endurance championship, and has been a works BMW driver since 1998.

http://www.hansstuck.com/en/

[Coventrysucks]

Originally Posted by drakkie

Maybe the Germans just hate your silly anthem?

Just because it is dull, ponderous and about God, which few British people believe in anymore, saving the Queen, who isn't that popular either.

What's not to like?

Originally Posted by drakkie

Plus McLaren wouldn't exist if it wasn't sponsored by mercedes.

If you removed Mercedes' funding, then McLaren would probably be in trouble, but would still exist.

They'd probably have to drop out of F1, sack some staff and maybe move out of Paragon, but the rest of their operations would probably continue to be operational.

If you rewound the clock so that Mercedes was never involved with McLaren, then it wouldn't be the same company, but it would definitely still exist.

Originally Posted by drakkie

Didn't Mercedes even buy McLaren?

No.

Originally Posted by drakkie

Aren't they the owner then ?

No.

Originally Posted by drakkie

Then it is a German company, based in the UK...

DaimlerChysler could buy the remaining 60%, but - like Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines - it would still be a British company.

[Jack_Bauer]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

Just because it is dull, ponderous and about God, which few British people believe in anymore, saving the Queen, who isn't that popular either.

Well the Queen's half-German anyway, so there's already plenty of reference to Deutschland whenever McLaren win a race.

[RazaBlade]

What a load of rubbish. So what happens on the off chance that Williams win a race, they will have the Japanese anthem as theyre driving Toyota engines? Is that a no I hear Mr Stuck? Then keep your stupid ideas to yourself....

[Cotterik]

This is ironic, i was thinking this exact same thing when Mclaren won the 1-2 last weekend. "I bet ze germans don't like us playing our anthem when our team win."

Ok, they supply the engines for Mclaren. But we didnt play a Japanese national anthem when Honda supplied Mclarens engines. I think Mercedes are treating Mclaren like AMG. They made the SLR with mclaren and quite frankly, the badge is all thats 'Mclaren'.

The team is British so playing a german national anthem is a ridiculous thing to even consider. Where the team is based is what matters. The cars are made and the team is situated in England, the team is english. 1 of the drivers is English. The main sponsor is english. Then our national anthem plays when we win.

[ScionDriver]

Thats stupid. They should play the British national anthem.

On a side note: How long will it be before we hear the Japanese national anthem again at an F1 race? Prolly like 2015.

[Cotterik]

Whenever Honda finish in the top 3 i guess?

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Jack_Bauer

He currently drives a BMW Z4M Coupe in the VLN Endurance championship, and has been a works BMW driver since 1998.

http://www.hansstuck.com/en/

My bad I was thinking about the late 80's and early 90's. I thought that eventually he had retired.

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by Cotterik

The team is British so playing a german national anthem is a ridiculous thing to even consider. Where the team is based is what matters. The cars are made and the team is situated in England, the team is english. 1 of the drivers is English. The main sponsor is english. Then our national anthem plays when we win.

None of that matters actually. The only single thing that has any bearing on it is the racing license. Whichever country the team has their racing license registered to, is what country they'll be recognised as from by the FIA, and hence which anthem will be played.