F1 pundit claims Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes ‘didn’t deserve’ to finish P2 in the 2023 constructors championship

Mercedes managed to finish second in the Constructors' standings ahead of rivals Ferrari, claiming the spot in Abu Dhabi.

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff (Via IMAGO)

Mercedes and Ferrari tussled over second place in the championship all year in 2023, while Red Bull took off at the top. Mercedes had a few substandard races but won out at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by a mere handful of points.

Ted Kravitz, a reporter for Sky Sports F1 felt that Mercedes would not have achieved the feat without the driver line-up of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Hailing the pairing as one of the best partnerships on the grid, Kravitz felt the car did not deserve second in the championship.

...Without Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, one of the strongest if not the strongest drive line-ups on the grid as a partnership, would they have finished second? Was that a car that deserved second? Probably not, no.

Kravitz said, via SkySportsF1 on X.

Ferrari suffered some major misfortunes in 2023 with unlucky mechanical failures and strategy misdemeanors, costing them dearly in the standings. In 2024, as rumors of the field converging arise, Ferrari may lock horns with Mercedes again.

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Toto Wolff admits doubts about the 2024 title campaign

Mercedes was knocked off their pedestal in 2021 with Red Bull snatching the crown from the Brackley-based team, as Red Bull proceeded to claim two consecutive Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in dominant fashion. Mercedes has only won a single race since 2021, the 2022 Sao Paulo GP.

Toto Wolff took Mercedes to most of their success, leading the outfit to win eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2021. However, when discussing the prospect of finally catching Red Bull in the very next season, Wolff is not optimistic, pointing out the leaps and bounds rivals like Aston Martin and McLaren have made.

Looking at the odds, very difficult. Looking at the performances of other teams, and how Aston Martin has done over the winter [from 2022 into 2023], McLaren recovered a second with an upgrade they expected to come in at 0.25 seconds…

Wolff said on catching Red Bull in 2024

Mercedes has kept themselves near the front of the field despite their luck running dry in their past two campaigns. Finishing third in 2022 and second in 2023, Mercedes will be hoping for a comeback before the regulation updates in 2026.