The 2024 Formula 1 season was one of Mercedes’ toughest. The German team, which won eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships from 2014 to 2021, never truly adapted to the technical regulations introduced in 2022. For the first two years, it was adrift while its rivals analyzed different design philosophies and settled on the best approach within 18 to 24 months. Mercedes, on the other hand, took much longer to abandon concepts like the zero-pod sidepods, which finally disappeared from its car only at the start of 2024.
With another regulatory overhaul coming in 2026, the question is whether Brackley has focused on refining its 2024 design to stay competitive this season or if it has already shifted its efforts entirely to the next era.
Toto Wolff: “In 2024, we scratched our heads more than once”
In an interview with ‘Sky Sport F1,’ team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff didn’t mince words. The Austrian acknowledged the team’s struggles but left things open-ended: “Last year, we scratched our heads quite a few times, especially at the start of the season.” – the Mercedes team boss pointed out. Transitioning from one concept to another, even when beneficial, meant losing key reference points and needing time to fully understand the new direction.
During the winter, speculation runs rampant. Journalists, pundits, and insiders make predictions that often turn out to be wrong. That’s why Toto Wolff prefers not to make bold claims about Mercedes’ 2025 potential, deferring any conclusions until the first race weekend: “We’ll only know where we stand when this bull**** ends. After Melbourne qualifying, we’ll have a clear picture,” he told ‘GPBlog.com’.
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