“If it was easy, it wouldn’t be as exciting,” Toto Wolff sends a special message to Mercedes fans ahead of the Baku challenge

Mercedes who dominated the turbo hybrid era has fallen behind since the introduction of new regulations and is eyeing a comeback

“If it was easy, it wouldn’t be as exciting,” Toto Wolff sends a special message to Mercedes fans ahead of the Baku challenge

Toto Wolff

Mercedes F1 team CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff took to Twitter to communicate his appreciation of the team’s fans in this difficult time for them. The team is typically accustomed to dominance, where victory is not a hope but an expectation. However, they have struggled in recent times to adapt their machinery to the new era of Formula One.

Wolff said, “I just wanted to tell you that we are really grateful for how you have supported us this season so far. It’s not been easy, but if it was, it wouldn’t be as exciting, and it wouldn’t be Formula 1 – the pinnacle of motor racing.” He also made sure to acknowledge the employees working tirelessly at the factories to get them back on track.

Wolff also made the team’s objective clear- “We’re excited for that and to have all of you cheering for us as we race for our next podium, win or championship.”. The team has clearly set its sights on competing at the very top again.

Related: George Russell fearless of future teammates after outperforming Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Mercedes have their sights set on being a title contender again

Mercedes via Sports Illustrated
Mercedes via Sports Illustrated

With the introduction of the new technical regulations in 2022, the dawn of a new era in Formula One was signified. Many teams managed to carry over their success in prior years and even improve, while some fell behind and were unable to cope. Mercedes was one such victim. Accustomed to dominance and effortlessly securing victories, it was a shock when the Silver Arrows seemed far off the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull and the start of the season. They were unable to compete for podiums, and things looked grim. The drivers, too, complained about the car’s driveability and seemed to struggle to keep up with their competitors. Porpoising was another issue the team could not avert and minimize, resulting in poorer results. However, throughout the season, they made several developmental breakthroughs and brought in regular upgrades in an attempt to compete.

Coupled with the immense talent George Russell and Lewis Hamilton possess, the team recovered well from their dismal start and managed to consistently secure podiums(17), which included one win. They accumulated 515 points and finished 3rd in the Constructors’ Championship, only 39 off initial favorites Ferrari. They hoped to carry this momentum into the 2023 season. The premiere of the 2023 season proved to be another tough one, as similar to the last, Mercedes seemed to be well off the pace of Red Bull, Ferrari, and new contenders Aston Martin. The Bahrain GP proved dismal, with both drivers only managing to cross the line in P5 and P7, dashing their hopes of getting off to a strong start. Toto Wolff openly admitted that they once again got the design of their car wrong. The Saudi Arabian GP seemed to show a slight improvement, with the drivers seeming more comfortable with the car, securing P4 and P5, finishing just shy of the podium.

Unfazed, the team had set their sights on further improvement and went to Melbourne for the Australian GP with an even stronger car. Their hard work was reflected by their drivers qualifying 2-3, a significant improvement over the last 2 weekends. George Russell, who was running in the podium places, was forced to retire due to an engine issue—an unfortunate result, for a weekend that seemed very promising for the young star. Lewis Hamilton, however, persevered through the chaos and brought home a strong P2, a result the team desperately needed to raise their morale. They stand at 56 points and in P3, 9 shy of Aston Martin in P2 and 67 off Red Bull, the current leaders.

The improvement we’ve witnessed with Mercedes is immense, as their show a stark contrast to the lackluster team they seemed to be at the first race of the season. Having already made great development, it seems inevitable that the team will be able to compete with the likes of Red Bull in the near future. Whether they can maintain this level of enhancement will be the defining factor in their prosperity or downfall.

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