Mercedes has experienced a 2024 Formula One season characterized by highs and lows: after a difficult start, it managed to secure three victories before the summer break (Austria, Great Britain, and Spa), only to see a decline in performance in the last few races. Despite the temptation to focus resources on 2026, when the new Formula 1 regulations will be introduced, team principal Toto Wolff firmly reiterated that the main goal remains to continue fighting for wins in 2025 without losing sight of the present.
“This is the core of the issue every year and, especially if such a significant regulatory change occurs, will we make compromises one year or another?” Toto Wolff said in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com. “But I would take it from Niki Lauda‘s motto, when he is asked: ‘Would you rather win this one or the next one?’ And he answers: ‘Both.’”
The challenge for the Brackley team is not only competing with rivals like Red Bull and McLaren but also understanding the causes behind the fluctuating performance of their ground-effect car. Toto Wolff emphasized how complex it is to interpret these fluctuations, with teams like Ferrari and Mercedes going from excellent results to disappointing races. Only McLaren seems to have achieved a certain level of consistency, while the other teams continue to oscillate between success and struggle.
Mercedes is focused on gathering as much data as possible in the final races of the season to better prepare for the 2025 Formula 1 championship, which will be the last based on the current rules and regulations, before the introduction of the new generation of Formula 1 single-seaters in 2026. Although the W15 has proven capable of winning, the team still needs to work on optimizing crucial elements such as aerodynamic balance, tire management, and adaptation to track conditions. Although they have secured important wins, Toto Wolff admitted that the gap with the leaders remains significant and that there is still much work to be done.
“The goal we set for ourselves every year is to win races. We’ve won three, two on merit. So, from that perspective, you could say we’re meeting certain expectations. But if you look at the whole season, it’s not the case. It’s extremely tight now, among four teams, meaning eight cars. And unfortunately, due to underperformance and retirements, the gap from the leading team is simply too large. So we find ourselves in a position in the constructors’ championship that is far from satisfying.” – the Mercedes team principal concluded.
Leave a Reply