Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has taken a moment to reflect on the past three years of the current ground-effect era in Formula 1, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by the team and their partnership with Lewis Hamilton. The period marked a difficult chapter for both Mercedes and Hamilton, despite their storied history, which includes eight Constructors’ Championships and six Drivers' titles over their 12-season collaboration.
Overcoming Challenges and Breaking the Winless Streak
Wolff acknowledged the difficulties during this time, noting that despite the team's struggles, Mercedes was able to help Hamilton break his winless streak after 2021. However, as Hamilton prepares for his departure to Ferrari in 2025, Wolff emphasized that the success of their partnership should not be overshadowed by recent challenges. He highlighted that their collaboration remains unmatched in the world of sports:
“It's the most competitive motorsport in the world and we were lucky and blessed with winning eight consecutive world championship titles," Wolff said. "That wasn't done before in any other sport. And Lewis won seven drivers’ championships."
The Dominance of Red Bull in the Ground Effect Era
The introduction of the ground-effect regulations in 2022 posed significant challenges for many teams, including Mercedes. During this period, Red Bull quickly established itself as the dominant force in Formula 1. The 2023 season solidified their superiority, with Red Bull winning 21 out of 22 Grands Prix, leaving Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz as the only driver to prevent a clean sweep with his victory in Singapore.
Mercedes' Progress and Struggles in 2024
In 2024, Mercedes made notable progress with their car, but consistency remained elusive. Wolff pointed out that the team’s performance was best at circuits with cooler temperatures, and although they couldn’t match Red Bull’s dominance, Hamilton secured important victories at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Teammate George Russell also contributed with two wins, further solidifying the team’s presence despite ongoing struggles.
Despite not finishing the season on a high note as hoped, Wolff stressed that the challenges faced in recent years do not detract from the immense success Mercedes achieved during their partnership with Hamilton. He acknowledged that the team had been caught off guard by the new regulations, but emphasized that their historic run of championships cannot be erased:
“You cannot extrapolate from that that you're going to win forever or that you're in the hunt for every single championship. That doesn't happen. And the regulations were changed twice and we maintained the level of performance and won championships. And then we've just been caught out by these new regulations in 2022,” Wolff explained.
Learning from Michael Jordan’s Legacy: Success Isn’t Always Guaranteed
Wolff drew a comparison to legendary basketball player Michael Jordan, using it to highlight the resilience required in sport and to suggest that Mercedes’ recent seasons without championship victories shouldn’t be viewed as failures. He pointed out that Jordan won six NBA championships during his career, but that didn’t mean his other seasons were failures:
“Michael Jordan played 12 [sic] seasons or whatever, he won six championships—were the other six a failure?" Wolff posed. “We’ve been together 12 years now in this championship and we won eight. Are the other ones a failure?”
Wolff went on to acknowledge the team's performances in recent years, stating:
“We finished third two years ago, we finished second last year, bearing in mind we haven’t won a race, and we won three this year. So that is not all a failure. That was a pretty good spell for Mercedes and for Lewis. And we will be trying to do it better.”
Conclusion: A Historic Partnership and Continued Ambition
In his reflection, Wolff made it clear that while Mercedes’ recent struggles in the new regulations era are part of the team's journey, their legacy with Hamilton remains historic. The lessons learned during this challenging period will continue to shape the team’s efforts to improve, with an eye on future success in the sport. As Hamilton looks ahead to his next chapter with Ferrari, Wolff remains confident that Mercedes' partnership with the seven-time world champion is something truly exceptional in Formula 1 history.