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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff detailed why the team was unable to conquer the ground-effect era of F1, after obliterating the first phase of the V6 hybrid period.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff explained the team’s struggle to adapt to the ground-effect era of Formula 1 after a dominant V6 hybrid period. Despite winning all Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2021, Mercedes faced challenges in the new era.
Although Mercedes’ cars were competitive and capable of winning races, they struggled to maintain their previous level of success in the ground-effect era. With only seven wins during this period, the team is looking for a fresh start with the upcoming rule changes in F1.
Wolff acknowledged that while there were some successes, Mercedes failed to match its rivals’ performance in the new era. Teams like Red Bull and McLaren excelled in understanding and utilizing ground-effect, leading to their championship victories.
Despite having ideas and occasional successes, Mercedes couldn’t find the edge to compete for a World Championship. Wolff highlighted McLaren and Red Bull as examples of teams that successfully turned their campaigns around, something Mercedes couldn’t achieve in four years of trying.
