In the face of ongoing challenges with its cars since the change in regulations in 2022, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has tempered short-term expectations for the team’s Formula 1 progress, advocating a strategic view that spans the long term rather than immediate race seasons.
The Mercedes Formula 1 team is navigating through one of its most challenging phases in the sport. Having previously set the benchmark with an unparalleled run of eight Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2021, the team finds itself grappling with the complexities of the current ground effect regulations. Wolff has candidly positioned the team’s current state within a broader narrative of rebuilding and recalibration, underscoring a commitment to a long-term vision for success.
The transition to ground effect aerodynamics has not been kind to Mercedes, a stark contrast to their earlier domination. The team’s innovative approaches, including the ‘zeropod’ concept, have not yielded the anticipated advantages, and this has meant that the team started on the back foot this season compared to the likes of Red Bull, who have been able to evolve a successful concept since its inception in 2022. Despite these setbacks, Wolff sees the 2024 season’s W15 as a step forward, albeit not enough to bridge the gap to their competitors immediately.
Mercedes’ introspection revealed a discrepancy between their simulation results and real-world performance, a challenge that has persisted despite various technical overhauls and changes in technical staff.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 7: Toto Wolff of Germany and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March… JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 7: Toto Wolff of Germany and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 7, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
“I think we’ve lost our way at the beginning of 2022,” Wolff admitted to Fox Sports Australia, via Motorsport Week. “Because all our tools and systems gave us cars that were winning championships every year and then the new regulations were very much around the ground effect.”
He continued:
“That means all the suction happens through the floor. And we came out with a car that showed all the promises on the data and in the wind tunnel, but we didn’t deliver.
“Since then we’ve changed everything from the layout, the suspension, the driver’s position, the gearboxes. But it seems that the fundamental issue is at the core. We haven’t solved that.”
It’s fair to assume that, unless the Brackley squad strikes gold and makes a McLaren-size jump in their development, they will not be fighting at the top of the grid this season.
“Again, I’m looking at it with a very long-term perspective,” the team chief said.
“I’m part of the team as a coach, co-shareholder and I think I want to look back in 10 years and 20 years and say there’s been many more championships that we won but you need to be realistic about what you can achieve in a single weekend.
“We’re not where we want to be we just got to dig deep put our head down and continue to work and add performance and eventually you know be more competitive but I doubt it’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Um die besten Erfahrungen zu bieten, verwenden wir Technologien wie Cookies, um Geräteinformationen zu speichern und/oder darauf zuzugreifen. Wenn Sie diesen Technologien zustimmen, können wir Daten wie das Surfverhalten oder eindeutige IDs auf dieser Website verarbeiten. Die Nichteinwilligung oder der Widerruf der Einwilligung kann bestimmte Merkmale und Funktionen beeinträchtigen.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
