P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned that rival Formula 1 teams will come to rue the Silver Arrows’ slump
In 2022, Mercedes’ eight-year reign as Constructors’ Champions came to an end as they adopted the flawed zero-pod design philosophy in F1’s ground effect era. Despite facing challenges, their car, W13, performed exceptionally well in Brazil, with George Russell securing a victory in the Sprint and his first Grand Prix win the following day. However, their performance in 2023 was disappointing, experiencing their first winless season since 2011 while Red Bull dominated with 21 victories. Mercedes abandoned the zero-pod philosophy before the Monaco Grand Prix but finished second in the standings. Mercedes learned many lessons from the season and are continuously focused on learning and evolving, despite their success in the past decade. One standout race for the team was at the 2023 United States Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton finished closely behind Max Verstappen but was disqualified due to a worn plank. Mercedes’ biggest challenge for 2024 is managing expectations and closing the gap on their successful rivals.
