Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains

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Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains
Company typePrivate
Founded11 October 1983
FounderMario Illen, Paul Morgan
Headquarters
Brixworth, Northamptonshire
,
United Kingdom
ParentDaimler AG
Websitewww.mercedes-amg-hpp.com

Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (previously known as Ilmor Engineering and Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines) is a British Formula One engine manufacturer, owned by Mercedes-Benz. The company has supplied Sauber during the 1994 season, McLaren since 1995, Force India since 2009, Brawn in 2009, the Mercedes AMG factory team since 2010, and Williams since 2014. It has also been confirmed that they will supply Lotus F1 as of 2015. They have won two Formula One constructors' championships and four drivers' championships.

Background

A 2004 McLaren powered by the Mercedes-Ilmor 3.0 litre V10

Ilmor was founded by Mario Illien and Paul Morgan in 1983, as an independent British Formula One engine manufacturer. The company name was taken from the surnames of the founders. It originally started building engines for IndyCars with the money of IndyCar team owner and chassis manufacturer Roger Penske.[1]

Daimler-Benz acquired Chevrolet's 25% share of Ilmor in 1993. In 2002, Daimler AG increased its share to 55% and renamed the company Mercedes-Ilmor.[1] In 2005, Daimler became the sole owner of Ilmor and renamed the company first to Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines, then to Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines. In December 2011, the company was renamed to Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains along with the renaming of Mercedes GP to incorporate the Mercedes-AMG brand.[2]

At the same time, the small Special Projects part of the company, which between 2003 and 2005 had been contracted to design and build Honda's Indy Racing League engines, split away to become a separate company, owned by Mario Illien and Roger Penske. This new company, which is totally independent of Mercedes, is once again known as Ilmor Engineering Ltd.

History

Mercedes-Benz from 2010 onwards also competes as a constructor as well as an engine maker.

In 1991, Ilmor entered Formula One as the engine supplier to the Leyton House team (formerly March). In 1992, Leyton House changed its name back to March and continued using Ilmor engines. Ilmor also delivered engines to the Tyrrell team in that year. Powered by an Ilmor V10, Tyrrell scored 8 points, and March 3 points.[1]

Ilmor already had a good name in F1, and so the Sauber sportscar-team and Mercedes-Benz that were planning their Formula One entrance together signed a deal with Ilmor to produce racing engines for them. However, Mercedes stepped back from the project with the engines only carrying the slogan "Concept by Mercedes-Benz" and the engines were officially called "Saubers".

However, after an unexpectedly fast performance in 1993, Sauber convinced Mercedes to enter officially in 1994. In 1994, Ilmor also supplied the new Pacific GP team of Keith Wiggins with the old 1993 spec engines. Pacific only managed to qualify seven times in thirty-two attempts, although the engine was not implicated in this poor display.

Force India, one of Mercedes' engine user.

Ilmor became the engine partner to McLaren in 1995. The partnership took its first win at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix. Mika Häkkinen picked up driver's championships in 1998 and 1999, and the team won the constructor's championship in 1998.[1] After a no-win 2006 season, McLaren bounced back and won the driver's championship in 2008 with Lewis Hamilton.

In 2001, Paul Morgan was killed whilst landing his vintage aeroplane at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire. This led to Mercedes-Benz increasing their financial involvement in Ilmor, with the company being renamed Mercedes-Ilmor Ltd.

The new Formula One regulations in 2014 saw Mercedes produce a hybrid 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 engine, which features both Kinetic energy recovery system and a heat energy recovery system. The Mercedes engine started the season with a clear advantage, with Mercedes-engined cars scoring the majority of the points.[3]

Formula One engine deals

Constructor Season(s) Total wins First win Last win
Switzerland Sauber 1994 0 – –
United Kingdom McLaren 1995–2014 78 1997 Australian Grand Prix 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix
India Force India 2009–present 0 – –
United Kingdom Brawn 2009 8 2009 Australian Grand Prix 2009 Italian Grand Prix
United Kingdom Williams 2014–present 0 – –
United Kingdom Lotus 2015 – – –

Bold indicates current engine deal.
Italics indicates future engine deal.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

Main article: Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix results § As an engine supplier

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Tytler, Ewan. "Ilmor: Bowmen of the Silver Arrows". Atlas F1. Haymarket Media. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Company Details". Companies House.
  3. ^ Benson, Andrew (9 April 2014). "F1: McLaren can catch Mercedes says race chief Eric Boullier". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

External links

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