The sales of Mercedes-Benz cars in India have taken a hit recently due to the public’s preference to invest in systematic investment plans (SIP), according to the sales and marketing head for the company’s operations in the country. Santosh Iyer told Times of India that the luxury car market was deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and people are looking at relatively safer investments.

"While the luxury car industry is growing at one of its fastest paces post-pandemic, actual sales are a far cry from potential and wealth that India carries," Iyer said in the interview.

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Iyer also explained that the average consumer is currently looking for a dip in the market to increase their investments in SIPs and as a result, luxury cars have lost their value as an asset.

"Disposable incomes into aspirational and premium products such as cars are not as widespread as they should be. While there are 15,000 people inquiring about luxury cars every month, the actual order size is about 1500 units. So, there are still 13,500 customers who desire to own a Mercedes-Benz, but postpone their purchase thinking that its fine, maybe, I should continue (with) my SIP or maybe the next dip (in markets) is there," he added.

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According to the data published by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), there are around 59.3 million SIP accounts in India. "They (SIPs) are our competitors, I tell my team if you are able to break that (SIP investment) cycle, then exponential growth is a given,” Iyer concluded.

The response from Iyer has sparked a lot of conversations on social media with many users making fun of the statement and suggesting that Mercedes is unable to understand their customer base.

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The sales of Mercedes-Benz cars in India have taken a hit recently due to the public’s preference to invest in systematic investment plans (SIP), according to the sales and marketing head for the company’s operations in the country.

The sales of Mercedes-Benz cars in India have taken a hit recently due to the public’s preference to invest in systematic investment plans (SIP), according to the sales and marketing head for the company’s operations in the country. Santosh Iyer told Times of India that the luxury car market was deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and people are looking at relatively safer investments. "While the luxury car industry is growing at one of its fastest paces post-pandemic, actual sales are a far cry from potential and wealth that India carries," Iyer said in the interview. Also read | Ukraine claims Russia is preparing for fresh attacks on its energy infra Iyer also explained that the average consumer is currently looking for a dip in the market to increase their investments in SIPs and as a result, luxury cars have lost their value as an asset. "Disposable incomes into aspirational and premium products such as cars are not as widespread as they should be. While there are 15,000 people inquiring about luxury cars every month, the actual order size is about 1500 units. So, there are still 13,500 customers who desire to own a Mercedes-Benz, but postpone their purchase thinking that its fine, maybe, I should continue (with) my SIP or maybe the next dip (in markets) is there," he added. Also read | WHO to use new preferred term ‘mpox’ for ‘Monkeypox’ virus to avoid stigma According to the data published by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), there are around 59.3 million SIP accounts in India. "They (SIPs) are our competitors, I tell my team if you are able to break that (SIP investment) cycle, then exponential growth is a given,” Iyer concluded. The response from Iyer has sparked a lot of conversations on social media with many users making fun of the statement and suggesting that Mercedes is unable to understand their customer base.

Mercedes Benz has an unusual competition in India, says sales and marketing head

If it is a sign of coming times then feeling the need for speed may soon make you take a glance at your pocket first. BBC has reported that luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is soon to charge customers an 'acceleration fee' for some of its electric cars to accelerate faster. As per the report, the company will charge customers USD 1200 excluding tax per year. With this, some of its vehicles will accelerate from 0-60 mph a second faster.

The move by Mercedes Benz follows one from BMW which launched a subscription service earlier this year for heated seats. BBC said that Mercedes does not plan to introduce 'acceleration increase' in UK currently. The subscription will however be available in the US for Mercedes-EQ EQE 350 and EQS 450 vehicles. Their SUV counterparts will be eligible for the subscription as well. However, no exact date has yet been officially announced by the company for the rollout of the subscription.

Customers and the public in general were surprised earlier this year when BMW announced 25 pounds monthly fee to unlock heated seats and steering in their cars.

This was not the first subscription option launched by carmakers. In 2021, Toyota&nbsp;had announced that it would charge USD 8 to some customers to enable them to start their cars remotely. In 2019, Elon Musk-led Tesla announced USD 2000 one-time fee to make its Model-3 cars accelerate from 0-60 mph half a second faster.

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If it is a sign of coming times then feeling the need for speed may soon make you take a glance at your pocket first. BBC has reported that luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is soon to charge customers an 'acceleration fee' for some of its electric cars to accelerate faster.

If it is a sign of coming times then feeling the need for speed may soon make you take a glance at your pocket first. BBC has reported that luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is soon to charge customers an 'acceleration fee' for some of its electric cars to accelerate faster. As per the report, the company will charge customers USD 1200 excluding tax per year. With this, some of its vehicles will accelerate from 0-60 mph a second faster. The move by Mercedes Benz follows one from BMW which launched a subscription service earlier this year for heated seats. BBC said that Mercedes does not plan to introduce 'acceleration increase' in UK currently. The subscription will however be available in the US for Mercedes-EQ EQE 350 and EQS 450 vehicles. Their SUV counterparts will be eligible for the subscription as well. However, no exact date has yet been officially announced by the company for the rollout of the subscription. Customers and the public in general were surprised earlier this year when BMW announced 25 pounds monthly fee to unlock heated seats and steering in their cars. This was not the first subscription option launched by carmakers. In 2021, Toyota had announced that it would charge USD 8 to some customers to enable them to start their cars remotely. In 2019, Elon Musk-led Tesla announced USD 2000 one-time fee to make its Model-3 cars accelerate from 0-60 mph half a second faster. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Life in the 'cost' lane: Mercedes to charge ‘acceleration fee’ for cars to go faster

Morale at Mercedes is booming after the team's first win of the Formula One season in Brazil last weekend and they will be going for it again in the finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, George Russell said. The 24-year-old Briton led seven times world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton one-two at the chequered flag at Interlagos after also winning the Saturday sprint and setting the fastest lap.

The Sao Paulo victory was Russell's first in Formula One, at the end of his fourth season in the sport and first with Mercedes. Russell told reporters on Thursday he had slept for most of the flight from Brazil to Abu Dhabi and the celebrations had been put on hold until after the season-ender at Yas Marina.

"I always believed I could achieve victories and you believe you can become a world champion," he said when asked if he felt any different.

"For sure confidence is high and the morale within the team is booming. But you know, I don't suddenly feel transformed overnight. I still feel the same driver as I was this time one week ago.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/sports/red-bull-driver-max-verstappen-blames-media-for-making-him-look-bad-lashes-out-at-abuse-535092">Red Bull driver Max Verstappen blames media for making him look bad, lashes out at abuse</a>

Russell said Mercedes would be seeking to make it two in a row this weekend.

"I think since Austin the car's been performing really well and probably better than we could have ever hoped for," he added. "(Double world champion) Max (Verstappen) and Red Bull are going to be fast here. I think the combination of the low-speed corners and the long straights, they are going to suit their car really, really well.

"But, you know, we saw even in Brazil, on a circuit that we didn't expect to be quite as competitive, we were still very quick. So yeah, we'll be going for it."

Team-mate Hamilton, winner of a record 103 career races and preparing for his 200th with Mercedes, will be hoping to avoid completing his first season without a victory.

Sunday will also bring back memories of last year's controversial finale that dashed his hopes of a record eighth title after then-race director Michael Masi made a late change to the safety car procedure.

"I don’t really think about it, so I don't really have many thoughts on the last race here. I've had many great experiences here in the previous years," said the five times Abu Dhabi winner.

Morale at Mercedes is booming after the team's first win of the Formula One season in Brazil last weekend and they will be going for it again in the finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, George Russell said.

Morale at Mercedes is booming after the team's first win of the Formula One season in Brazil last weekend and they will be going for it again in the finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, George Russell said. The 24-year-old Briton led seven times world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton one-two at the chequered flag at Interlagos after also winning the Saturday sprint and setting the fastest lap. The Sao Paulo victory was Russell's first in Formula One, at the end of his fourth season in the sport and first with Mercedes. Russell told reporters on Thursday he had slept for most of the flight from Brazil to Abu Dhabi and the celebrations had been put on hold until after the season-ender at Yas Marina. "I always believed I could achieve victories and you believe you can become a world champion," he said when asked if he felt any different. "For sure confidence is high and the morale within the team is booming. But you know, I don't suddenly feel transformed overnight. I still feel the same driver as I was this time one week ago. ALSO READ: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen blames media for making him look bad, lashes out at abuse Russell said Mercedes would be seeking to make it two in a row this weekend. "I think since Austin the car's been performing really well and probably better than we could have ever hoped for," he added. "(Double world champion) Max (Verstappen) and Red Bull are going to be fast here. I think the combination of the low-speed corners and the long straights, they are going to suit their car really, really well. "But, you know, we saw even in Brazil, on a circuit that we didn't expect to be quite as competitive, we were still very quick. So yeah, we'll be going for it." Team-mate Hamilton, winner of a record 103 career races and preparing for his 200th with Mercedes, will be hoping to avoid completing his first season without a victory. Sunday will also bring back memories of last year's controversial finale that dashed his hopes of a record eighth title after then-race director Michael Masi made a late change to the safety car procedure. "I don’t really think about it, so I don't really have many thoughts on the last race here. I've had many great experiences here in the previous years," said the five times Abu Dhabi winner.

Upbeat Mercedes camp eyeing top prize in Abu Dhabi, says George Russell

Seven-time&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;One world champion Lewis&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;is feeling optimistic about the 2023 season, following Mercedes' return to form at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Hamilton&nbsp;finished second in Sao Paulo behind team-mate George Russell, ending Red Bull's run of nine victories in a row.

Despite a trying season, with the British driver yet to secure a win and sitting fifth in the standings,&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;believes they've learned some valuable lessons that can put them in the championship hunt next year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/abu-dhabi-grand-prix-lewis-hamilton-has-one-last-shot-to-avoid-first-winless-season-534850">Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton has one last shot to avoid first winless season</a>

"It's definitely not been a good season in terms of performance but it's been a really great season in terms of all of the team having to push together. We've learned so many new things, we've harnessed new tools, we've found better and new ways of working together so I think it's been overall actually a really impactful year," speaking on Thursday (November 17) in Abu Dhabi, host of this season's final Grand Prix on Sunday (November 20).

Hamilton&nbsp;is hoping Mercedes will come back all "guns blazing" in 2023 and thinks the result in Brazil shows they are heading in the right direction.

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is feeling optimistic about the 2023 season, following Mercedes' return to form at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is feeling optimistic about the 2023 season, following Mercedes' return to form at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Hamilton finished second in Sao Paulo behind team-mate George Russell, ending Red Bull's run of nine victories in a row. Despite a trying season, with the British driver yet to secure a win and sitting fifth in the standings, Hamilton believes they've learned some valuable lessons that can put them in the championship hunt next year. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton has one last shot to avoid first winless season "It's definitely not been a good season in terms of performance but it's been a really great season in terms of all of the team having to push together. We've learned so many new things, we've harnessed new tools, we've found better and new ways of working together so I think it's been overall actually a really impactful year," speaking on Thursday (November 17) in Abu Dhabi, host of this season's final Grand Prix on Sunday (November 20). Hamilton is hoping Mercedes will come back all "guns blazing" in 2023 and thinks the result in Brazil shows they are heading in the right direction.

Mercedes to return in style next year, feels Lewis Hamilton ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Seven times world champion Lewis&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;intends to race on in Formula One for years to come and Mercedes teammate George Russell said on Thursday (October 27) he was excited by the prospect. Hamilton, who will be 38 in January, told reporters in Japan this month that he planned to race beyond 2023 and expanded on that recently by saying he and Mercedes would do another deal.

"We're going to sit down and we're going to discuss it in these next couple of months, I would say," the sport's most successful driver, with a record 103 wins, told reporters at last weekend's U.S. Grand Prix. Russell, who replaced Valtteri Bottas in the lineup this season and is ahead of&nbsp;Hamilton&nbsp;in the drivers' standings with three races to go, welcomed that prospect when asked at the Mexican Grand Prix.

"It's really exciting to have that potential of Lewis staying on for a number of years to come," said the Briton, who has yet to win a grand prix. "He's proven that he's definitely not lifted his foot off the throttle pedal and he's definitely in the last few races performing probably better than ever. "That's really exciting for me to have that opportunity to be his team mate and to go directly head to head with him and grow on this journey we're on together."

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Mercedes were the dominant team in Formula One, winning eight successive constructors' titles until dethroned by Red Bull this season. Hamilton&nbsp;and Russell have been wrestling with a difficult car, that suffered bouncing early on, and have yet to win a race in 2022.

Russell said he felt the two drivers had a great relationship and were working together with the team to get Mercedes back to the top. "It would be great to be team mates for a number of years to come," he added.

Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton intends to race on in Formula One for years to come and Mercedes teammate George Russell said on Thursday (October 27) he was excited by the prospect.

Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton intends to race on in Formula One for years to come and Mercedes teammate George Russell said on Thursday (October 27) he was excited by the prospect. Hamilton, who will be 38 in January, told reporters in Japan this month that he planned to race beyond 2023 and expanded on that recently by saying he and Mercedes would do another deal. "We're going to sit down and we're going to discuss it in these next couple of months, I would say," the sport's most successful driver, with a record 103 wins, told reporters at last weekend's U.S. Grand Prix. Russell, who replaced Valtteri Bottas in the lineup this season and is ahead of Hamilton in the drivers' standings with three races to go, welcomed that prospect when asked at the Mexican Grand Prix. "It's really exciting to have that potential of Lewis staying on for a number of years to come," said the Briton, who has yet to win a grand prix. "He's proven that he's definitely not lifted his foot off the throttle pedal and he's definitely in the last few races performing probably better than ever. "That's really exciting for me to have that opportunity to be his team mate and to go directly head to head with him and grow on this journey we're on together." ALSO READ | Cristiano Ronaldo scores on Man United return as Europa League progress certain Mercedes were the dominant team in Formula One, winning eight successive constructors' titles until dethroned by Red Bull this season. Hamilton and Russell have been wrestling with a difficult car, that suffered bouncing early on, and have yet to win a race in 2022. Russell said he felt the two drivers had a great relationship and were working together with the team to get Mercedes back to the top. "It would be great to be team mates for a number of years to come," he added.

Lewis Hamilton not ready to retire from Formula One, looking to pen down multi-year deal

On Wednesday, the German carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it would quit the Russian market and sell its shares in the local subsidiaries to the country’s car dealer chain Avtodom, joining several other car manufacturers to exit Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

“Mercedes-Benz intends to sell its shares in Russian subsidiaries to a local investor,” said the Russian ministry of industry in a statement on Telegram. It added, “The new owner of the Russian divisions of Mercedes-Benz, Avtodom, will be able to attract other companies as partners for joint productions.”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mercedes-recalls-one-million-cars-over-faulty-brakes-485489">Mercedes recalls one million cars over faulty brakes</a> 
 
This comes after carmakers like Nissan, Renault, Toyota and others have exited the Russian market due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. According to reports, Avtodom will retain “highly qualified jobs and competencies” at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Moscow but it is unclear if the employees will retain their jobs in the process. The production and import&nbsp;of Mercedes in Russia had been halted earlier this year in March.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Russia, Natalia Koroleva in a statement said, “The main priorities in agreeing the terms of the transaction were to maximise the fulfilment of obligations to clients from Russia both in terms of after-sales services and financial services, as well as preserving jobs of employees at the Russian divisions of the company.”

The German carmaker’s CFO Harald Wilhelm, while presenting the third-quarter reports, said that this transaction may not affect the company’s profits or financial position when compared to previous quarters. “The completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of all relevant authorities,” said the German carmaker in a statement.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mercedes-benz-launches-first-made-in-india-eqs-580-electric-car-521927">Mercedes-Benz launches first ‘Made in India’ EQS 580 luxury electric car</a> 
 
Meanwhile, the Russian car dealer chain Avtodom said that it would choose a technology partner to continue operations at the Mercedes-Benz production facilities in the northwest of Moscow. As reports also suggest that following the completion of the deal the local investor will also provide maintenance for the Mercedes-Benz car owners in Russia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

On Wednesday, the German carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it would quit the Russian market and sell its shares in the local subsidiaries to the country’s car dealer chain Avtodom, joining several other car manufacturers to exit Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the German carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it would quit the Russian market and sell its shares in the local subsidiaries to the country’s car dealer chain Avtodom, joining several other car manufacturers to exit Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine. “Mercedes-Benz intends to sell its shares in Russian subsidiaries to a local investor,” said the Russian ministry of industry in a statement on Telegram. It added, “The new owner of the Russian divisions of Mercedes-Benz, Avtodom, will be able to attract other companies as partners for joint productions.” ALSO READ: Mercedes recalls one million cars over faulty brakes This comes after carmakers like Nissan, Renault, Toyota and others have exited the Russian market due to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. According to reports, Avtodom will retain “highly qualified jobs and competencies” at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Moscow but it is unclear if the employees will retain their jobs in the process. The production and import of Mercedes in Russia had been halted earlier this year in March. Meanwhile, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Russia, Natalia Koroleva in a statement said, “The main priorities in agreeing the terms of the transaction were to maximise the fulfilment of obligations to clients from Russia both in terms of after-sales services and financial services, as well as preserving jobs of employees at the Russian divisions of the company.” The German carmaker’s CFO Harald Wilhelm, while presenting the third-quarter reports, said that this transaction may not affect the company’s profits or financial position when compared to previous quarters. “The completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of all relevant authorities,” said the German carmaker in a statement. ALSO READ: Mercedes-Benz launches first ‘Made in India’ EQS 580 luxury electric car Meanwhile, the Russian car dealer chain Avtodom said that it would choose a technology partner to continue operations at the Mercedes-Benz production facilities in the northwest of Moscow. As reports also suggest that following the completion of the deal the local investor will also provide maintenance for the Mercedes-Benz car owners in Russia. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mercedes-Benz to exit Russian market, sells shares to local car dealer chain

While supply chain issues are hampering the auto industry output, Mercedes posts profits beating recession fears. Watch this report.

WION Dispatch: Mercedes posts profits beating recession fears

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team were fined nearly $25,000) for failing to notify stewards. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Wion Fineprint | Mercedes fined nearly $25,000 over Lewis Hamilton's nose stud

Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team has been fined 25,000 euros ($24,500) on Sunday for failing to notify stewards.

Mercedes were slapped with the penalty by Formula One's governing body, the FIA, for submitting a self-scrutineering form that said the British driver had removed all jewellery and piercings in line with regulations.&nbsp;

"In recent events, Hamilton had removed the piercing prior to the competition. The team assumed, without enquiring of Hamilton, that he had followed or would follow the same procedure for this event," said the FIA stewards in their ruling.&nbsp;

"The stewards accept that the error in the declaration in this case was not intentional or deliberate. Given these circumstances, we fine the team 25,000 euros."

Seven-time world champion Hamilton told reporters that he was wearing the stud again on the advice of doctors after suffering from an infection when he removed it.

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"I've had my jewellery and my nose stud for years and obviously we had that whole commotion at the beginning of the year," Hamilton said.

"At the time it was soldered in, so it didn't come loose. They gave me for many races an exemption so I could find a solution," Hamilton explained.

"I tried... putting it in and out. It got infected because of that. I got a blood blister and had quite a sore on my nose. This is all stuff I told them before qualifying."&nbsp;

"I put it back in and in the last two weeks it's started to heal and (doctors) asked that I keep it in."

Hamilton was summoned to the stewards' room after qualifying third-fastest for Sunday's race at the Marina Bay circuit.

"Broadcast footage showed Hamilton wearing an item of jewellery in the form of a body piercing (nose stud) during the session," said a statement from the stewards.

Hamilton "explained that he had been advised by his doctors not to remove it for the time being... the team produced reports from a medical practitioner that confirmed Hamilton's explanation.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-shocking-video-shows-lifeless-bodies-of-football-fans-lying-on-floor-after-deadly-stampede-in-indonesia-521721">WATCH: Shocking video shows lifeless bodies of football fans lying on floor after deadly stampede in Indonesia</a>

"In light of the extenuating circumstances, we have determined to take no further action."

Hamilton said it was "all a bit silly" for his jewellery to become such an issue this season, despite the rule banning drivers wearing it being around for decades.

"One of the best excuses I was given a long time ago was about heat and if you are in a fire metal conducts heat," he said.

"But our zip is metal, our buckle around our helmet is metal, we've got the wires with aluminium metal in them," Hamilton continued.

"It's crazy that we're having to talk about something so small. It's all a bit silly. Hopefully they'll be sensible.&nbsp;

"The stewards should be there to keep us safe most importantly. But this is not a safety issue."

Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team has been fined 25,000 euros ($24,500) on Sunday for failing to notify stewards.

Lewis Hamilton will be allowed to keep wearing his nose stud at the Singapore Grand Prix for medical reasons, but his team has been fined 25,000 euros ($24,500) on Sunday for failing to notify stewards. Mercedes were slapped with the penalty by Formula One's governing body, the FIA, for submitting a self-scrutineering form that said the British driver had removed all jewellery and piercings in line with regulations. "In recent events, Hamilton had removed the piercing prior to the competition. The team assumed, without enquiring of Hamilton, that he had followed or would follow the same procedure for this event," said the FIA stewards in their ruling. "The stewards accept that the error in the declaration in this case was not intentional or deliberate. Given these circumstances, we fine the team 25,000 euros." Seven-time world champion Hamilton told reporters that he was wearing the stud again on the advice of doctors after suffering from an infection when he removed it. Also Read: Indonesia stadium stampede: What led to one of world's worst football tragedies "I've had my jewellery and my nose stud for years and obviously we had that whole commotion at the beginning of the year," Hamilton said. "At the time it was soldered in, so it didn't come loose. They gave me for many races an exemption so I could find a solution," Hamilton explained. "I tried... putting it in and out. It got infected because of that. I got a blood blister and had quite a sore on my nose. This is all stuff I told them before qualifying." "I put it back in and in the last two weeks it's started to heal and (doctors) asked that I keep it in." Hamilton was summoned to the stewards' room after qualifying third-fastest for Sunday's race at the Marina Bay circuit. "Broadcast footage showed Hamilton wearing an item of jewellery in the form of a body piercing (nose stud) during the session," said a statement from the stewards. Hamilton "explained that he had been advised by his doctors not to remove it for the time being... the team produced reports from a medical practitioner that confirmed Hamilton's explanation. Also Read: WATCH: Shocking video shows lifeless bodies of football fans lying on floor after deadly stampede in Indonesia "In light of the extenuating circumstances, we have determined to take no further action." Hamilton said it was "all a bit silly" for his jewellery to become such an issue this season, despite the rule banning drivers wearing it being around for decades. "One of the best excuses I was given a long time ago was about heat and if you are in a fire metal conducts heat," he said. "But our zip is metal, our buckle around our helmet is metal, we've got the wires with aluminium metal in them," Hamilton continued. "It's crazy that we're having to talk about something so small. It's all a bit silly. Hopefully they'll be sensible. "The stewards should be there to keep us safe most importantly. But this is not a safety issue."

Lewis Hamilton allowed to wear piercing, but Mercedes slapped with $24,500 fine

At a time when there are recession fairs across the world, in India there is no dearth of buyers for luxury cars. Lamborghini yesterday launched its Huracan Tecnical car while Mercedes-Benz has launched a new electric car.

Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica launched in India, priced at Rs. 4.04 crore

Mercedes-Benz has launched its all-new sixth-generation C-Class sedan in India with a starting price tag of INR 5.5 million. The new avatar of the popular C-Class sedan is fondly named the 'Baby S', and the reason behind that is its new S-Class inspired interior design and tech features. But the highlight among all the updates is the new 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine option that replaces the 2.0-litre unit from the outgoing model. So, how does it feels to drive? That's what we are exploring in this video.

WION Pitstop: 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class review

Formula One leader Max Verstappen handed his Red Bull team a home pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix after Mercedes rivals Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crashed in qualifying.

The 24-year-old Dutch driver produced a best lap of one minute 04.984 seconds at the end of a nail-biting, two-minute shootout as the red-flagged session resumed at Spielberg`s scenic Red Bull Ring.

Hamilton and then Russell had both spun off into the tyre barriers, halting the decisive final phase of qualifying while pushing hard.

Already on provisional pole, Verstappen then fended off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.029 seconds. 
Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who took his first Formula One win less than a week ago at Silverstone, put his

Ferrari third with the top three separated by just 0.082.

"It was a very long wait between the two runs," said Verstappen after taking the 16th pole of his career and third this season.

"That`s never great once you are in a rhythm, it’s nice to just keep on going. In the end it was a very tight qualifying."

Verstappen leads the overall standings by 34 points from team mate Sergio Perez, who qualified fourth but was demoted to 13th after his final lap times were deleted for exceeding track limits in the second phase.

Had the violation been punished at the time, Perez would not have made it through to the final phase at the expense of AlphaTauri`s Pierre Gasly, who now moves up to 10th.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-something-we-rohit-sharma-breaks-silence-over-frequent-captaincy-changes-in-india-watch-495598" hreflang="en">'It's something we....' - Rohit Sharma breaks silence over frequent captaincy changes in India - WATCH</a>

"It is disappointing to lose fourth place, the track limits are very tight here this season," said the Mexican.

Leclerc is third, 43 points off the lead. The Monegasque, an early championship leader, has taken six poles this year but has not won since the Australian Grand Prix in April.

"In the last lap I struggled a little bit bringing the tyres back after such a long time in the pits but Max was just a little bit quicker," said Leclerc.

Mercedes, who showed a strong turn of speed with an upgraded car in Silverstone, were again looking good but their hopes of pole were dashed as Hamilton’s car snapped out of control and into the barriers at turn seven.

Russell spun out at the turn nine-10 sequence shortly after, halting proceedings. Stewards later handed the Briton a warning for crossing the track on foot and without permission from marshals.

"So sorry guys," said Hamilton, who will start ninth with Russell fourth.

Esteban Ocon moved up to fifth for Alpine ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher who made sure both Haas cars were in the top-10. Fernando Alonso in the other Alpine will start eighth.

McLaren had a session to forget with Australian Daniel Ricciardo knocked out in the opening phase. His teammate Lando Norris, lacking confidence on the brakes, was knocked out in the second part of the hour-long session.

The Briton will start 15th with Ricciardo 16th.

Aston Martin endured another nightmare qualifying with neither Sebastian Vettel nor Lance Stroll making it past the first phase for the third weekend in a row.

Four times champion Vettel had a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits and will line up last. 
The Austrian weekend is being run to the sprint format which means Verstappen`s pole will go down in the record books regardless of where he starts on Sunday.

The results of Saturday’s 24-lap race decide the grid for Sunday.

There will also be a maximum 34 drivers` points on offer from the weekend, compared to the usual 26, with the winner of the sprint scoring eight.

Formula One leader Max Verstappen handed his Red Bull team a home pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix after Mercedes rivals Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crashed in qualifying.

Formula One leader Max Verstappen handed his Red Bull team a home pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix after Mercedes rivals Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crashed in qualifying. The 24-year-old Dutch driver produced a best lap of one minute 04.984 seconds at the end of a nail-biting, two-minute shootout as the red-flagged session resumed at Spielberg`s scenic Red Bull Ring. Hamilton and then Russell had both spun off into the tyre barriers, halting the decisive final phase of qualifying while pushing hard. Already on provisional pole, Verstappen then fended off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.029 seconds. Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who took his first Formula One win less than a week ago at Silverstone, put his Ferrari third with the top three separated by just 0.082. "It was a very long wait between the two runs," said Verstappen after taking the 16th pole of his career and third this season. "That`s never great once you are in a rhythm, it’s nice to just keep on going. In the end it was a very tight qualifying." Verstappen leads the overall standings by 34 points from team mate Sergio Perez, who qualified fourth but was demoted to 13th after his final lap times were deleted for exceeding track limits in the second phase. Had the violation been punished at the time, Perez would not have made it through to the final phase at the expense of AlphaTauri`s Pierre Gasly, who now moves up to 10th. Also read | 'It's something we....' - Rohit Sharma breaks silence over frequent captaincy changes in India - WATCH "It is disappointing to lose fourth place, the track limits are very tight here this season," said the Mexican. Leclerc is third, 43 points off the lead. The Monegasque, an early championship leader, has taken six poles this year but has not won since the Australian Grand Prix in April. "In the last lap I struggled a little bit bringing the tyres back after such a long time in the pits but Max was just a little bit quicker," said Leclerc. Mercedes, who showed a strong turn of speed with an upgraded car in Silverstone, were again looking good but their hopes of pole were dashed as Hamilton’s car snapped out of control and into the barriers at turn seven. Russell spun out at the turn nine-10 sequence shortly after, halting proceedings. Stewards later handed the Briton a warning for crossing the track on foot and without permission from marshals. "So sorry guys," said Hamilton, who will start ninth with Russell fourth. Esteban Ocon moved up to fifth for Alpine ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher who made sure both Haas cars were in the top-10. Fernando Alonso in the other Alpine will start eighth. McLaren had a session to forget with Australian Daniel Ricciardo knocked out in the opening phase. His teammate Lando Norris, lacking confidence on the brakes, was knocked out in the second part of the hour-long session. The Briton will start 15th with Ricciardo 16th. Aston Martin endured another nightmare qualifying with neither Sebastian Vettel nor Lance Stroll making it past the first phase for the third weekend in a row. Four times champion Vettel had a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits and will line up last. The Austrian weekend is being run to the sprint format which means Verstappen`s pole will go down in the record books regardless of where he starts on Sunday. The results of Saturday’s 24-lap race decide the grid for Sunday. There will also be a maximum 34 drivers` points on offer from the weekend, compared to the usual 26, with the winner of the sprint scoring eight.

Mas Verstappen on pole in Austrian Grand Prix as Mercedes crash

According to reports, Mercedes recalled 1 Million cars globally on fear of faulty breaks. Out of these, 70,000 recalled cars were sold in Germany.

Reports: Mercedes to recall 1 Million cars globally on fear of faulty breaks

Mercedes-Benz, a luxury German automotive brand is recalling nearly one million older vehicles worldwide due to a potential problem with the braking system, the German federal transport authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) said.

The KBA said in a statement dated June 1 and reported late Saturday in German media that the recall affected cars built between 2004 and 2015, the SUV series ML and GL and the R-Class luxury minivan.

"Corrosion on the brake booster can in the worst case lead to the connection between the brake pedal and the braking system being interrupted," the KBA added.

As a consequence, the service brake can stop functioning.

The KBA said that worldwide 993,407 vehicles were being recalled, including around 70,000 in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz confirmed the recall later, saying the move was based on an "analysis of isolated reports for certain vehicles".

In rare cases of very severe corrosion, it might be possible for a particularly strong or hard braking manoeuvre to cause mechanical damage to the brake booster, whereby the connection between the brake pedal and brake system would fail.

In such a very rare case, it would not be possible to decelerate the vehicle via the service brake. Thus, the risk of a crash or injury would be increased.

The company said it would "start with the recall immediately" and contact the owners of the "potentially affected vehicles".

The recall process will involve inspecting potentially affected vehicles and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacing the parts where necessary. Until the inspection takes place, the company advised their customers not to drive their vehicles.

[With inputs from agencies] 
&nbsp;

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Mercedes-Benz, a luxury German automotive brand is recalling nearly one million older vehicles worldwide due to a potential problem with the braking system, the German federal transport authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) said.

Mercedes-Benz, a luxury German automotive brand is recalling nearly one million older vehicles worldwide due to a potential problem with the braking system, the German federal transport authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) said. The KBA said in a statement dated June 1 and reported late Saturday in German media that the recall affected cars built between 2004 and 2015, the SUV series ML and GL and the R-Class luxury minivan. "Corrosion on the brake booster can in the worst case lead to the connection between the brake pedal and the braking system being interrupted," the KBA added. As a consequence, the service brake can stop functioning. The KBA said that worldwide 993,407 vehicles were being recalled, including around 70,000 in Germany. Mercedes-Benz confirmed the recall later, saying the move was based on an "analysis of isolated reports for certain vehicles". In rare cases of very severe corrosion, it might be possible for a particularly strong or hard braking manoeuvre to cause mechanical damage to the brake booster, whereby the connection between the brake pedal and brake system would fail. In such a very rare case, it would not be possible to decelerate the vehicle via the service brake. Thus, the risk of a crash or injury would be increased. The company said it would "start with the recall immediately" and contact the owners of the "potentially affected vehicles". The recall process will involve inspecting potentially affected vehicles and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacing the parts where necessary. Until the inspection takes place, the company advised their customers not to drive their vehicles. [With inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mercedes recalls one million cars over faulty brakes

RM Sotheby's on Thursday (May 19) announced that an extremely rare Mercedes-Benz car was sold for a whopping $143 million earlier this month during an auction. It has now become the world's most expensive car ever sold. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz is one of two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes ever made.

Rare Mercedes fetches $143 million, becomes most valuable car in the world

Mercedes-Benz aims to produce electric cars consuming as little as 10 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km (62 miles), its chief technology officer (CTO) said on Thursday, a third more efficient than the current average for electric cars.

Speaking as the carmaker celebrated the successful test drive of its EQXX prototype vehicle over more than 1,000 km from Sindelfingen in Germany to the Cote d'Azur on a single charge, CTO Markus Schaefer said efficient design was key to maximising an electric car's range.

"First we optimise efficiency, and then we can see how many battery modules we put in the car," Schaefer said at a media roundtable, adding that customers should be able to decide the size of the battery they want based on their needs.

Carmakers from Mercedes-Benz to Tesla to China's Nio are in a neck-to-neck race to produce higher range cars that dispel consumer anxiety over the lack of widespread charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Mercedes unveiled its Vision EQXX prototype, boasting a 1,000 km-range with a battery half the volume of its flagship EQS model, in January, promising that some of the car's components would make their way into series vehicles in 2-3 years time.

The car spent 8.7 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km on its 11-and-a-half hour drive to France, Mercedes-Benz said, about twice as efficient as Mercedes models on the market and Tesla's longest-range car on offer, the Model S 60.

Mercedes' EQS has the highest range on the market as of yet, according to car comparison portal carwow, with 768 km, followed by Tesla's Model S Long Range with up to 652 km.

"There'll be a further increase for some time before a fall, which will happen once charging infrastructure is as available as petrol stations," Schaefer said, although he declined to state what range Mercedes was targeting in future models.

Mercedes-Benz aims to produce electric cars consuming as little as 10 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km (62 miles), its chief technology officer (CTO) said on Thursday, a third more efficient than the current average for electric cars.

Mercedes-Benz aims to produce electric cars consuming as little as 10 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km (62 miles), its chief technology officer (CTO) said on Thursday, a third more efficient than the current average for electric cars. Speaking as the carmaker celebrated the successful test drive of its EQXX prototype vehicle over more than 1,000 km from Sindelfingen in Germany to the Cote d'Azur on a single charge, CTO Markus Schaefer said efficient design was key to maximising an electric car's range. "First we optimise efficiency, and then we can see how many battery modules we put in the car," Schaefer said at a media roundtable, adding that customers should be able to decide the size of the battery they want based on their needs. Carmakers from Mercedes-Benz to Tesla to China's Nio are in a neck-to-neck race to produce higher range cars that dispel consumer anxiety over the lack of widespread charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Mercedes unveiled its Vision EQXX prototype, boasting a 1,000 km-range with a battery half the volume of its flagship EQS model, in January, promising that some of the car's components would make their way into series vehicles in 2-3 years time. The car spent 8.7 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 km on its 11-and-a-half hour drive to France, Mercedes-Benz said, about twice as efficient as Mercedes models on the market and Tesla's longest-range car on offer, the Model S 60. Mercedes' EQS has the highest range on the market as of yet, according to car comparison portal carwow, with 768 km, followed by Tesla's Model S Long Range with up to 652 km. "There'll be a further increase for some time before a fall, which will happen once charging infrastructure is as available as petrol stations," Schaefer said, although he declined to state what range Mercedes was targeting in future models.

Mercedes-Benz completes 1,000 km electric drive on energy-efficient design

Mercedes-Benz has introduced made in India Mercedes Maybach S class. The price of the car is a whopping 3.2 crore for one of the variants and the other for 2.5 crore.

Mercedes launches 'Made-in-India' Maybach S class

It looks like the future of mobility is all electric and now Germany's Mercedes-Benz expects to have factories producing exclusively electric vehicles by second half of the decade but they'll steer clear of building EV-only plants.

Mercedes-Benz foresees EV-only production lines

Lewis Hamilton said Friday he was ready to attack the new Formula One season after getting over a “difficult time" following the traumatic end to his 2021 world championship campaign.

The British driver, 37, was speaking for the first time since he lost the championship in controversial circumstances to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi on December 12.

Hamilton was poised to capture a record-breaking eighth world title at the season finale before a controversial safety car restart allowed Dutch driver Verstappen to pass his British rival on the last lap.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-reminds-me-of-muhammad-ali-sir-viv-richards-compares-pakistan-cricketer-to-legendary-boxer-454371">'He reminds me of Muhammad Ali': Sir Viv Richards compares Pakistan cricketer to legendary boxer</a>

The seven-time world champion was disillusioned following his defeat and, at one stage, it was unclear if he would return to the grid.

But Hamilton, speaking at the launch of the Mercedes car for the 2022 season — and a day after Michael Masi was removed as F1 race director — said he was still hungry for more success.

“I never ever said I was going to stop," he insisted.

“I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people and you feel like you are part of a family. There is nothing quite like it."

Hamilton said the race at Yas Marina was “manipulated" after Masi’s decision to allow the race to restart, which ultimately handed Verstappen the chance to win the title.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-olympics-ukrainian-bobsledder-lidiia-hunko-tests-positive-for-banned-substance-says-ita-454331">Beijing Olympics: Ukrainian bobsledder Lidiia Hunko tests positive for banned substance, says ITA</a>

Reflecting on the moments after the race, Hamilton, who appeared alongside new team-mate George Russell and team boss Toto Wolff, added: “It was a difficult time for me and a time where I needed to take a step back and focus on the present.

“I had my family all around me and creating great memories.

“I eventually got to a point where I decided I would be attacking again coming into another season and working with Toto and George."

‘EXCITING TIMES’

Mercedes have reverted from black — installed for the past two seasons in the fight against racism — to their traditional silver colours for the new campaign.

“It is probably one of the most exciting times," added Hamilton. “It feels like the first (launch) again.

“It is very surreal to think I have been with Mercedes for 10 years.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-olympics-was-chilling-to-witness-kamila-valieva-crumble-under-pressure-says-ioc-chief-thomas-bach-454315">Beijing Olympics: Was 'chilling' to witness Kamila Valieva crumble under pressure, says IOC chief Thomas Bach</a>

“Seeing George have his seat fit at the factory was reminiscent of when I had my first seat fit with Mercedes at 2013. The journey we have been on since is absolutely phenomenal.

“Going into this year, I have not really set any goals. Every individual within this team has worked towards the ultimate goal of winning the world championship and raising the bar and doing something that has not been done before."

Wolff said earlier on Friday that he was never concerned that Hamilton would quit Formula One.

“No, I was never worried — although you have to respect the driver is disillusioned after such an event," he told the BBC.

Lewis Hamilton said Friday he was ready to attack the new Formula One season after getting over a “difficult time" following the traumatic end to his 2021 world championship campaign.

Lewis Hamilton said Friday he was ready to attack the new Formula One season after getting over a “difficult time" following the traumatic end to his 2021 world championship campaign. The British driver, 37, was speaking for the first time since he lost the championship in controversial circumstances to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi on December 12. Hamilton was poised to capture a record-breaking eighth world title at the season finale before a controversial safety car restart allowed Dutch driver Verstappen to pass his British rival on the last lap. ALSO READ: 'He reminds me of Muhammad Ali': Sir Viv Richards compares Pakistan cricketer to legendary boxer The seven-time world champion was disillusioned following his defeat and, at one stage, it was unclear if he would return to the grid. But Hamilton, speaking at the launch of the Mercedes car for the 2022 season — and a day after Michael Masi was removed as F1 race director — said he was still hungry for more success. “I never ever said I was going to stop," he insisted. “I love doing what I do, and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people and you feel like you are part of a family. There is nothing quite like it." Hamilton said the race at Yas Marina was “manipulated" after Masi’s decision to allow the race to restart, which ultimately handed Verstappen the chance to win the title. ALSO READ: Beijing Olympics: Ukrainian bobsledder Lidiia Hunko tests positive for banned substance, says ITA Reflecting on the moments after the race, Hamilton, who appeared alongside new team-mate George Russell and team boss Toto Wolff, added: “It was a difficult time for me and a time where I needed to take a step back and focus on the present. “I had my family all around me and creating great memories. “I eventually got to a point where I decided I would be attacking again coming into another season and working with Toto and George." ‘EXCITING TIMES’ Mercedes have reverted from black — installed for the past two seasons in the fight against racism — to their traditional silver colours for the new campaign. “It is probably one of the most exciting times," added Hamilton. “It feels like the first (launch) again. “It is very surreal to think I have been with Mercedes for 10 years. ALSO READ: Beijing Olympics: Was 'chilling' to witness Kamila Valieva crumble under pressure, says IOC chief Thomas Bach “Seeing George have his seat fit at the factory was reminiscent of when I had my first seat fit with Mercedes at 2013. The journey we have been on since is absolutely phenomenal. “Going into this year, I have not really set any goals. Every individual within this team has worked towards the ultimate goal of winning the world championship and raising the bar and doing something that has not been done before." Wolff said earlier on Friday that he was never concerned that Hamilton would quit Formula One. “No, I was never worried — although you have to respect the driver is disillusioned after such an event," he told the BBC.

'Never said I was going to stop': Lewis Hamilton hungry for more success ahead of new F1 season

Mercedes have confirmed that Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton will race for them again this year after the seven-time world champion ended his social media silence on Saturday, saying, "I`ve been gone. Now I`m back!". 
 
In reaction to Hamilton`s social media post, Mercedes shared the image with the caption "I`m back". Hamilton had been absent from social media since December 11 after posting an image from celebrating his P2 qualifying at Yas Marina. 
 
Now, his future is poised to be clarified with some previously suggesting he`d retire and quit the sport he has dominated for many years. 
 
Hamilton missed out on the F1 title in 2021, with Max Verstappen claiming the prize in controversial circumstances. Although his social media return is not confirmation of his position on the grid, it appears extremely likely he will be in the Mercedes garage for pre-season testing in Barcelona. 
&nbsp;

Mercedes have confirmed that Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton will race for them again this year after the seven-time world champion ended his social media silence on Saturday, saying, "I`ve been gone.

Mercedes have confirmed that Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton will race for them again this year after the seven-time world champion ended his social media silence on Saturday, saying, "I`ve been gone. Now I`m back!". In reaction to Hamilton`s social media post, Mercedes shared the image with the caption "I`m back". Hamilton had been absent from social media since December 11 after posting an image from celebrating his P2 qualifying at Yas Marina. Now, his future is poised to be clarified with some previously suggesting he`d retire and quit the sport he has dominated for many years. Hamilton missed out on the F1 title in 2021, with Max Verstappen claiming the prize in controversial circumstances. Although his social media return is not confirmation of his position on the grid, it appears extremely likely he will be in the Mercedes garage for pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Mercedes confirm Lewis Hamilton's comeback after F1 star ends social media silence

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz has informed owners of its luxury cars of a technical defect that could spark a fire.

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz warns car owners of a technical defect that could spark a fire

India's Prime Minister has got a new set of wheels - the Mercedes-Maybach S650. What makes this car a travelling fortress? What do other world leaders use? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets $1.6 million car

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got a massive security update.

According to reports, the Indian prime minister has added the armoured Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard to his cavalcade of Range Rover Vogue and the Toyota Land Cruiser that served him over the past couple of years.

Modi was first spotted with the new car at Hyderabad House in Delhi while welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was on a two-day visit to India. The vehicle again made an appearance in the convoy of Modi’s rally recently.

Certified with VR10-level protection, the Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard offers the highest level of protection available on a production car.

As per reports, the car’s windows are coated with polycarbonate and can withstand hardened steel core bullets

It has received a 2010 Explosion Proof Vehicle (ERV) rating, which means that the sedan has the ability to protect the occupants from a 15kg TNT explosion from a distance of only 2 meters.

The interior of the window is coated with polycarbonate and the vehicle’s lower part is heavily armoured to protect the occupants from direct explosions.

The cabin also receives a separate air supply in case of a gas attack.

The car is also equipped with special run-flat tyres that will continue to function in case of damage or puncture to ensure a quick getaway.

The S650 Guard is powered by a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 516bhp and a peak torque of approximately 900Nm. The maximum speed is limited to 160kmph.

The S650 Guard has all the conforms that are expected of the standard Maybach S-Class, including the plush interior with seat massagers, while the seats themselves have been repositioned for enhanced legroom.

Mercedes-Maybach launched the S600 Guard in India last year for Rs 10.5 crore and the S650 can cost more than Rs 12 crore.

However, the cost of the vehicle modified for the prime minister is unknown.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got a massive security update. According to reports, the Indian prime minister has added the armoured Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard to his cavalcade of Range Rover Vogue and the Toyota Land Cruiser that served him over the past couple of years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got a massive security update. According to reports, the Indian prime minister has added the armoured Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard to his cavalcade of Range Rover Vogue and the Toyota Land Cruiser that served him over the past couple of years. Modi was first spotted with the new car at Hyderabad House in Delhi while welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was on a two-day visit to India. The vehicle again made an appearance in the convoy of Modi’s rally recently. Certified with VR10-level protection, the Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard offers the highest level of protection available on a production car. As per reports, the car’s windows are coated with polycarbonate and can withstand hardened steel core bullets It has received a 2010 Explosion Proof Vehicle (ERV) rating, which means that the sedan has the ability to protect the occupants from a 15kg TNT explosion from a distance of only 2 meters. The interior of the window is coated with polycarbonate and the vehicle’s lower part is heavily armoured to protect the occupants from direct explosions. The cabin also receives a separate air supply in case of a gas attack. The car is also equipped with special run-flat tyres that will continue to function in case of damage or puncture to ensure a quick getaway. The S650 Guard is powered by a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 516bhp and a peak torque of approximately 900Nm. The maximum speed is limited to 160kmph. The S650 Guard has all the conforms that are expected of the standard Maybach S-Class, including the plush interior with seat massagers, while the seats themselves have been repositioned for enhanced legroom. Mercedes-Maybach launched the S600 Guard in India last year for Rs 10.5 crore and the S650 can cost more than Rs 12 crore. However, the cost of the vehicle modified for the prime minister is unknown. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian PM Modi gets armoured Mercedes-Maybach that can survive bullets and blasts

Mercedes' most compact AMG model, the A45 S hatchback, has been launched in India with an ex-showroom price tag of INR 79.50 lakh. Unlike the A35 sedan that's locally assembled, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S comes to India as a completely built unit (CBU) and will be available in limited numbers only. At the heart, it has the world’s most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder series-production engine, with 421 horsepower on tap. We went to the world-class test track at Natrax, Indore, to check its full potential, and here is what we came back with.

New Mercedes-Benz A45 S AMG 4Matic review

Mercedes protested on Sunday after Red Bull`s Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and beat their seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 world title with a last lap overtake.

The team, who still secured the constructors` crown for a record eighth year in a row, protested two alleged breaches of the sporting regulations when the safety car was deployed late in the race.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/max-verstappen-wins-formula-one-world-title-after-beating-lewis-hamilton-to-clinch-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-436341">Max Verstappen wins Formula One world title after beating Lewis Hamilton to clinch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</a>

A statement from the stewards said Mercedes had protested "against the classification established at the end of the competition", arguing there was a breach of article 48.12.

Verstappen had back markers between him and Hamilton after pitting with the safety car deployed and time running out for racing to resume.

Race director Michael Masi decided that only the five lapped cars between the two title rivals should be allowed to unlap themselves, instead of all lapped cars as is the usual procedure.

In a second protest, Mercedes also argued that article 48.8 was breached with Verstappen`s car moving in front of Hamilton`s before racing resumed as he waited impatiently for the Briton to lead away.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/russias-nikita-mazepin-out-of-abu-dhabi-gp-after-positive-covid-19-test-436264">Russia's Nikita Mazepin out of Abu Dhabi GP after positive COVID-19 test</a>

It is illegal to overtake, unless authorised to do so, while the safety car is on track.

Mercedes said they would make no further comment until after the hearing.

Mercedes protested on Sunday after Red Bull`s Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and beat their seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 world title with a last lap overtake.

Mercedes protested on Sunday after Red Bull`s Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and beat their seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 world title with a last lap overtake. The team, who still secured the constructors` crown for a record eighth year in a row, protested two alleged breaches of the sporting regulations when the safety car was deployed late in the race. ALSO READ: Max Verstappen wins Formula One world title after beating Lewis Hamilton to clinch Abu Dhabi Grand Prix A statement from the stewards said Mercedes had protested "against the classification established at the end of the competition", arguing there was a breach of article 48.12. Verstappen had back markers between him and Hamilton after pitting with the safety car deployed and time running out for racing to resume. Race director Michael Masi decided that only the five lapped cars between the two title rivals should be allowed to unlap themselves, instead of all lapped cars as is the usual procedure. In a second protest, Mercedes also argued that article 48.8 was breached with Verstappen`s car moving in front of Hamilton`s before racing resumed as he waited impatiently for the Briton to lead away. ALSO READ: Russia's Nikita Mazepin out of Abu Dhabi GP after positive COVID-19 test It is illegal to overtake, unless authorised to do so, while the safety car is on track. Mercedes said they would make no further comment until after the hearing.

Abu Dhabi GP: Mercedes protest after Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to win F1 title

In pics- Lewis Hamilton survives massive scare in jaw-dropping car accident at Italian Grand Prix

Mercedes are open to compromise on Formula One's future engine rules to make it easier for the Volkswagen Group to enter the sport, motorsport head and F1 team boss Toto Wolff told reporters at the Italian Grand Prix.

The sport is due to introduce a new engine formula from 2025 and manufacturers are discussing how to make power units simpler, cheaper and more sustainable.

The Volkswagen Group, whose brands include Porsche and Audi, has attended engine manufacturer meetings as an interested party with the latest held on Sunday.

Wolff said Mercedes would be willing to get rid of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) element, with the new rules possibly delayed to 2026.

The current V6 turbo hybrid power units have two Motor Generator Units, the other being the MGU-K that recovers and supplies kinetic energy from braking. The MGU-H recovers and stores energy from or to the turbocharger.

"The MGU-H is going to be dropped if we can find alignment of many other points," said Wolff.

"I think it's a compromise. I cannot speak for anybody else but at Mercedes we are prepared to...in order to facilitate the entry of the Volkswagen Group.

"But there are several other topics where compromise needs to be found," he added.

"If compromise cannot be found then we will probably revert to the governance and have 2026 regulations that the (governing) FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) are going to come up with."

Formula One said in a statement that Sunday's meeting involved existing and prospective power unit suppliers as well as the FIA and Formula One.

"The discussion was positive and progress was made," it said. Some details remain to be addressed, however, we expect these to be resolved in the coming weeks."

The sport is hoping to attract more engine manufacturers with Honda pulling out at the end of this season and Red Bull taking over the Japanese manufacturer's intellectual property.

Red Bull are keen to simplify the engines and cut out the MGU-H element.

Champions Mercedes supply four of the 10 teams at present and Ferrari three, with Renault providing engines to their own Alpine-branded team. Honda work with Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri.

Red Bull have worked with the Volkswagen Group in the past, notably in the world rally championship before the German manufacturer withdrew, and there has long been talk of a partnership with Audi or Porsche in Formula One.

Former Volkswagen Motorsport head Jost Capito is now boss of the Mercedes-powered Williams team, who last week announced Red Bull-backed Alex Albon would be racing for them next season.

Formula One's chief executive Stefano Domenicali was previously head of Italian sportscar marque Lamborghini, a subsidiary of Audi, while Renault CEO Luca di Meo joined the French manufacturer from VW brand Seat after a stint at Audi.

Mercedes are open to compromise on Formula One's future engine rules to make it easier for the Volkswagen Group to enter the sport, motorsport head and F1 team boss Toto Wolff told reporters at the Italian Grand Prix.

Mercedes are open to compromise on Formula One's future engine rules to make it easier for the Volkswagen Group to enter the sport, motorsport head and F1 team boss Toto Wolff told reporters at the Italian Grand Prix. The sport is due to introduce a new engine formula from 2025 and manufacturers are discussing how to make power units simpler, cheaper and more sustainable. The Volkswagen Group, whose brands include Porsche and Audi, has attended engine manufacturer meetings as an interested party with the latest held on Sunday. Wolff said Mercedes would be willing to get rid of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) element, with the new rules possibly delayed to 2026. The current V6 turbo hybrid power units have two Motor Generator Units, the other being the MGU-K that recovers and supplies kinetic energy from braking. The MGU-H recovers and stores energy from or to the turbocharger. "The MGU-H is going to be dropped if we can find alignment of many other points," said Wolff. "I think it's a compromise. I cannot speak for anybody else but at Mercedes we are prepared to...in order to facilitate the entry of the Volkswagen Group. "But there are several other topics where compromise needs to be found," he added. "If compromise cannot be found then we will probably revert to the governance and have 2026 regulations that the (governing) FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) are going to come up with." Formula One said in a statement that Sunday's meeting involved existing and prospective power unit suppliers as well as the FIA and Formula One. "The discussion was positive and progress was made," it said. Some details remain to be addressed, however, we expect these to be resolved in the coming weeks." The sport is hoping to attract more engine manufacturers with Honda pulling out at the end of this season and Red Bull taking over the Japanese manufacturer's intellectual property. Red Bull are keen to simplify the engines and cut out the MGU-H element. Champions Mercedes supply four of the 10 teams at present and Ferrari three, with Renault providing engines to their own Alpine-branded team. Honda work with Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri. Red Bull have worked with the Volkswagen Group in the past, notably in the world rally championship before the German manufacturer withdrew, and there has long been talk of a partnership with Audi or Porsche in Formula One. Former Volkswagen Motorsport head Jost Capito is now boss of the Mercedes-powered Williams team, who last week announced Red Bull-backed Alex Albon would be racing for them next season. Formula One's chief executive Stefano Domenicali was previously head of Italian sportscar marque Lamborghini, a subsidiary of Audi, while Renault CEO Luca di Meo joined the French manufacturer from VW brand Seat after a stint at Audi.

Mercedes see engine compromise to help VW enter Formula One

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff dismissed Formula One`s experimental Saturday sprint format as `not fish, not meat` and said it was not doing much for the sport either. 
 
The 100km qualifying race was trialled for the second time at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but drivers struggled to overtake. 
 
Mercedes` seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton made a poor start and ended up fourth on the grid for Sunday`s main race, with title rival Max Verstappen putting his Red Bull on pole. 
 
Valtteri Bottas won the sprint for Mercedes, leading all the way, but the Finn will start last on Sunday due to engine penalties. 
 
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has suggested reverse grids could be used next season while Formula One is also considering running sprint races as stand-alone events unrelated to Sunday`s grand prix. 
 
Asked for his opinion, Wolff told reporters he felt the experiments were `diluting the DNA of the sport as a meritocracy. 
 
"I think the sprint races was worth the try, not sure we will keep them," he added. 
 
"Reverse grids can be done in junior formulas where you want to see the overtaking abilities of drivers but its not something we should even come close to in Formula One." 
 
Wolff said his preference would be to reduce the amount of practice time. 
 
"Start Friday afternoon with FP1 (first practice), do a Saturday morning FP2, do a conventional qualifying like we do and a fantastic grand prix on Sunday," he said. 
 
"And maybe you want to do some warm-up on Sunday morning, to have a little bit more spectacle for the people. I would just shorten the free practice sessions so there is more variability in the results, keep the rest like it is." 
 
The Austrian said everybody was confused with the sprint format and it "doesn`t give a lot of benefit" because nobody was prepared to take a serious risk. 
 
Formula One has scheduled a third sprint for Brazil in November and Wolff agreed the sport should give it another try and see if anything changed. 
 
Formula One managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn said it had been a "little bit quiet" at the front of the field but that happened in races anyway and the potential was evident. 
 
"I think it`s added to the whole weekend," he said. 
 
The Briton said drivers had been generally positive but some felt there should be more reward for the sprint and also more jeopardy. 
 
"If we`re doing that, then maybe a stand-alone event is a consideration. Qualifying on a Friday, race on a Sunday but a stand-alone event with some decent reward but maybe a little bit of jeopardy in the grid and how you start it," he said. 
 
"We don`t want gimmicks, we don`t want to cannibalise, we don`t want to affect the integrity." 
 
Brawn said there had been much more engagement with fans on a Friday.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff dismissed Formula One`s experimental Saturday sprint format as `not fish, not meat` and said it was not doing much for the sport either.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff dismissed Formula One`s experimental Saturday sprint format as `not fish, not meat` and said it was not doing much for the sport either. The 100km qualifying race was trialled for the second time at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but drivers struggled to overtake. Mercedes` seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton made a poor start and ended up fourth on the grid for Sunday`s main race, with title rival Max Verstappen putting his Red Bull on pole. Valtteri Bottas won the sprint for Mercedes, leading all the way, but the Finn will start last on Sunday due to engine penalties. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has suggested reverse grids could be used next season while Formula One is also considering running sprint races as stand-alone events unrelated to Sunday`s grand prix. Asked for his opinion, Wolff told reporters he felt the experiments were `diluting the DNA of the sport as a meritocracy. "I think the sprint races was worth the try, not sure we will keep them," he added. "Reverse grids can be done in junior formulas where you want to see the overtaking abilities of drivers but its not something we should even come close to in Formula One." Wolff said his preference would be to reduce the amount of practice time. "Start Friday afternoon with FP1 (first practice), do a Saturday morning FP2, do a conventional qualifying like we do and a fantastic grand prix on Sunday," he said. "And maybe you want to do some warm-up on Sunday morning, to have a little bit more spectacle for the people. I would just shorten the free practice sessions so there is more variability in the results, keep the rest like it is." The Austrian said everybody was confused with the sprint format and it "doesn`t give a lot of benefit" because nobody was prepared to take a serious risk. Formula One has scheduled a third sprint for Brazil in November and Wolff agreed the sport should give it another try and see if anything changed. Formula One managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn said it had been a "little bit quiet" at the front of the field but that happened in races anyway and the potential was evident. "I think it`s added to the whole weekend," he said. The Briton said drivers had been generally positive but some felt there should be more reward for the sprint and also more jeopardy. "If we`re doing that, then maybe a stand-alone event is a consideration. Qualifying on a Friday, race on a Sunday but a stand-alone event with some decent reward but maybe a little bit of jeopardy in the grid and how you start it," he said. "We don`t want gimmicks, we don`t want to cannibalise, we don`t want to affect the integrity." Brawn said there had been much more engagement with fans on a Friday.

Mercedes boss says F1 sprint format is 'not fish, not meat'

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a car&nbsp;that performs tasks as the driver thinks about it based on "Brain Computer Interface" (BCI)&nbsp;technology.

The ultra high-tech car has been put on display&nbsp;at the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich, Germany.

The car plans to seamlessly merge man and machine allowing humans to perform "intuitive interaction" with the car. The concept works on "Brain Computer Interface" (BCI). The interface picks brainwaves and sends signals to the onboard computer and then the computer performs the function.

The BCI technology allows passengers to change the music in the car without lifting a finger. The wearable electrodes attached to the passenger's head allows the car to perform multiple functions without disturbing anyone inside.

The technology measures the brain function as the user focuses on light on the dashboard, it picks the signal and performs the task.

The revolutionary new car is based on Mercedes Benz "Vision AVTR" refers to the Avatar movie which had&nbsp;a "neuro-inspired approach" allowing the neural connection.

The intuitive interaction is considered to be the biggest step in car design even as self-driven cars have become a rage. The new concept is based on "Advanced Vehicle Transformation".

Mercedes had earlier displayed the Vision AVTR at CES 2020. The German car giant has now gone a step further and unveiled the&nbsp;BCI model at Munich. However, the technology will not be in use right away although future passengers can test the model at the IAA show underway currently.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a car that performs tasks as the driver thinks about it based on "Brain Computer Interface" (BCI) technology. The ultra high-tech car has been put on display at the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich, Germany.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled a car that performs tasks as the driver thinks about it based on "Brain Computer Interface" (BCI) technology. The ultra high-tech car has been put on display at the IAA Mobility 2021 show in Munich, Germany. The car plans to seamlessly merge man and machine allowing humans to perform "intuitive interaction" with the car. The concept works on "Brain Computer Interface" (BCI). The interface picks brainwaves and sends signals to the onboard computer and then the computer performs the function. The BCI technology allows passengers to change the music in the car without lifting a finger. The wearable electrodes attached to the passenger's head allows the car to perform multiple functions without disturbing anyone inside. The technology measures the brain function as the user focuses on light on the dashboard, it picks the signal and performs the task. The revolutionary new car is based on Mercedes Benz "Vision AVTR" refers to the Avatar movie which had a "neuro-inspired approach" allowing the neural connection. The intuitive interaction is considered to be the biggest step in car design even as self-driven cars have become a rage. The new concept is based on "Advanced Vehicle Transformation". Mercedes had earlier displayed the Vision AVTR at CES 2020. The German car giant has now gone a step further and unveiled the BCI model at Munich. However, the technology will not be in use right away although future passengers can test the model at the IAA show underway currently. (With inputs from Agencies)

Mercedes unveils 'Vision AVTR': A car that can read your mind

George Russell was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Formula One team Mercedes for next season on Tuesday after Valtteri Bottas sealed a switch to Alfa Romeo.

The 23-year-old British driver earned his much-anticipated move to the Silver Arrows, with whom he has signed a long-term deal, after catching the eye during three years with Williams.

He also impressed in a one-off appearance for Mercedes at last year's Sakhir Grand Prix as a stand-in for seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had tested positive for coronavirus.

Russell, who will form an all-British line-up with Hamilton, said it was a "special day".

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely buzzing," he said in a Mercedes statement. "It's a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands.

"But I'm under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge. It's going to be a steep learning curve."

He added: "I've looked up to Lewis since I was in go-karts and the opportunity to learn from someone who has become a role model both on and off track can only benefit me as a driver, a professional, and a human being."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-schumachers-close-friend-gives-a-rare-update-on-formula-1-legend-411051">Michael Schumacher's close friend gives a rare update on Formula 1 legend</a>

Hamilton, who is currently second in this year's driver standings, three points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, welcomed his future teammate.

"Through hard work he has rightly earned his spot," tweeted the 37-year-old reigning world champion, who on Monday paid a warm tribute to the departing Bottas.

"I look forward to seeing him grow as a driver with this great team and working with him to raise @MercedesAMGF1 higher. See you next year."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it had not been a straightforward decision, praising Bottas for his contribution to the team's success over the past five seasons.

"Looking forward to 2022, we are very happy to confirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes," he added.

"He has been a winner in every racing category -- and the past three seasons with Williams have given us a taste of what the future could hold for him in F1.

"Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time."

Bottas, 32, has spent the past five seasons alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, having replaced Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning the 2016 title.

The Finn has won nine races and claimed 17 pole positions with the team, but has not consistently been able to challenge Hamilton.

Alfa Romeo announced on Monday that Bottas had signed a multi-year deal to join the team from 2022.

George Russell was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Formula One team Mercedes for next season on Tuesday after Valtteri Bottas sealed a switch to Alfa Romeo.

George Russell was confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Formula One team Mercedes for next season on Tuesday after Valtteri Bottas sealed a switch to Alfa Romeo. The 23-year-old British driver earned his much-anticipated move to the Silver Arrows, with whom he has signed a long-term deal, after catching the eye during three years with Williams. He also impressed in a one-off appearance for Mercedes at last year's Sakhir Grand Prix as a stand-in for seven-time world champion Hamilton, who had tested positive for coronavirus. Russell, who will form an all-British line-up with Hamilton, said it was a "special day". "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely buzzing," he said in a Mercedes statement. "It's a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands. "But I'm under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge. It's going to be a steep learning curve." He added: "I've looked up to Lewis since I was in go-karts and the opportunity to learn from someone who has become a role model both on and off track can only benefit me as a driver, a professional, and a human being." ALSO READ | Michael Schumacher's close friend gives a rare update on Formula 1 legend Hamilton, who is currently second in this year's driver standings, three points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, welcomed his future teammate. "Through hard work he has rightly earned his spot," tweeted the 37-year-old reigning world champion, who on Monday paid a warm tribute to the departing Bottas. "I look forward to seeing him grow as a driver with this great team and working with him to raise @MercedesAMGF1 higher. See you next year." Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it had not been a straightforward decision, praising Bottas for his contribution to the team's success over the past five seasons. "Looking forward to 2022, we are very happy to confirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes," he added. "He has been a winner in every racing category -- and the past three seasons with Williams have given us a taste of what the future could hold for him in F1. "Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time." Bottas, 32, has spent the past five seasons alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, having replaced Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning the 2016 title. The Finn has won nine races and claimed 17 pole positions with the team, but has not consistently been able to challenge Hamilton. Alfa Romeo announced on Monday that Bottas had signed a multi-year deal to join the team from 2022.

George Russell confirmed as Lewis Hamilton's new teammate at Mercedes

Valtteri Bottas will leave Mercedes and race for Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo in a multi-year deal from 2022, the Swiss-based Formula One team said in a statement on Monday.

The Finn's departure clears the way for George Russell, 23, to leave Williams and join seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in an all-British line-up.

"A new chapter in my racing career is opening," said Bottas, a nine-times grand prix winner, who will replace retiring compatriot and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

"I am relishing the opportunity to help lead the team forward up the grid, especially with the new regulations in 2022 giving the team a chance to make a leap in performance.

"I'm grateful for the trust the team has put in me and I cannot wait to repay their faith: I'm as hungry as ever to race for results and, when the time comes, for wins."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-schumachers-close-friend-gives-a-rare-update-on-formula-1-legend-411051">Michael Schumacher's close friend gives a rare update on Formula 1 legend</a>

Bottas, 32, joined Mercedes from Williams in 2017 after the abrupt retirement of 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg and he said he was proud of what he had achieved alongside Hamilton.

"It has been a privilege and a great sporting challenge to work with Lewis, and the harmony in our relationship played a big part in the constructors' championships we won as team mates," he said.

Mercedes have won the last seven drivers' and constructors' championships.

Alfa boss Frederic Vasseur, who worked with Bottas when the Finn was coming through the junior series, said the driver had shown he was a strong team player.

"Valtteri has been an integral part of a team that rewrote the history books and he has four constructors’ world titles to his name: he is the right driver to help Alfa Romeo Racing make a step forward towards the front of the grid," he said.

"I’m really looking forward to seeing him put his ability to work for the good of the team."

Mercedes paid tribute to the Finn, without any mention of his replacement.

"This hasn't been an easy process or a straightforward decision for us," said team boss Toto Wolff.

"Valtteri has done a fantastic job over the past five seasons and he has made an essential contribution to our success and to our growth.

"Together with Lewis, he has built a benchmark partnership between two team-mates in the sport, and that has been a valuable weapon in our championship battles and pushed us to achieve unprecedented success."

Wolff said Bottas, a calm and straightforward personality who gets on well with Hamilton, would have deserved to stay with Mercedes.

"When the time comes, he will leave us with huge goodwill from every single member of the team, and he will forever be part of the Mercedes family," said the Austrian.

Valtteri Bottas will leave Mercedes and race for Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo in a multi-year deal from 2022, the Swiss-based Formula One team said in a statement on Monday.

Valtteri Bottas will leave Mercedes and race for Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo in a multi-year deal from 2022, the Swiss-based Formula One team said in a statement on Monday. The Finn's departure clears the way for George Russell, 23, to leave Williams and join seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in an all-British line-up. "A new chapter in my racing career is opening," said Bottas, a nine-times grand prix winner, who will replace retiring compatriot and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen. "I am relishing the opportunity to help lead the team forward up the grid, especially with the new regulations in 2022 giving the team a chance to make a leap in performance. "I'm grateful for the trust the team has put in me and I cannot wait to repay their faith: I'm as hungry as ever to race for results and, when the time comes, for wins." ALSO READ | Michael Schumacher's close friend gives a rare update on Formula 1 legend Bottas, 32, joined Mercedes from Williams in 2017 after the abrupt retirement of 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg and he said he was proud of what he had achieved alongside Hamilton. "It has been a privilege and a great sporting challenge to work with Lewis, and the harmony in our relationship played a big part in the constructors' championships we won as team mates," he said. Mercedes have won the last seven drivers' and constructors' championships. Alfa boss Frederic Vasseur, who worked with Bottas when the Finn was coming through the junior series, said the driver had shown he was a strong team player. "Valtteri has been an integral part of a team that rewrote the history books and he has four constructors’ world titles to his name: he is the right driver to help Alfa Romeo Racing make a step forward towards the front of the grid," he said. "I’m really looking forward to seeing him put his ability to work for the good of the team." Mercedes paid tribute to the Finn, without any mention of his replacement. "This hasn't been an easy process or a straightforward decision for us," said team boss Toto Wolff. "Valtteri has done a fantastic job over the past five seasons and he has made an essential contribution to our success and to our growth. "Together with Lewis, he has built a benchmark partnership between two team-mates in the sport, and that has been a valuable weapon in our championship battles and pushed us to achieve unprecedented success." Wolff said Bottas, a calm and straightforward personality who gets on well with Hamilton, would have deserved to stay with Mercedes. "When the time comes, he will leave us with huge goodwill from every single member of the team, and he will forever be part of the Mercedes family," said the Austrian.

Valtteri Bottas to leave Mercedes and race for Alfa Romeo in 2022

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