Mercedes F1 Team Admits Failure, Shifts Focus Onto Next Season

Not Catching Up

The Mercedes F1 Team faced a tough challenge from McLaren during the British Grand Prix. Despite Lewis Hamilton's efforts, he was unable to surpass Lando Norris and secure second place. Although Mercedes had introduced significant changes to their W14 car during the Monaco Grand Prix, their initial boost in performance did not translate into sustained success.

Photo: Motorsport Week

Firmly Behind Red Bull

The team now finds itself trailing behind Red Bull and recognizes that it may be unable to make the necessary improvements to bridge the gap. Consequently, team boss Toto Wolff believes that Mercedes will soon need to accept the need for a complete redesign in the upcoming season.

Focusing On Next Season

Wolff acknowledged that achieving second or third place in the championship standings does not significantly impact the team. Their ultimate goal is to win a world championship, which appears unlikely this year. Therefore, Mercedes aims to shift its focus to the next season, utilizing the remaining races to learn, develop, and carry that progress forward.

Finding a Balance

However, Wolff noted that continuing to work on the current car is not entirely futile since the regulations remain the same. Striking the right balance between continuing development and planning for the future is crucial. Despite McLaren's remarkable progress, Mercedes does not foresee the potential for similar immediate advancements due to limitations imposed by the cost cap and reduced wind tunnel and CFD (computational fluid dynamic)  time.

Diva 2.0

Mercedes' realization that their attention needs to turn towards 2024 follows a disappointing performance at the British Grand Prix. Despite the anticipation that the Silverstone circuit would favor their car's characteristics, it was McLaren who excelled. Wolff still maintains hope that Mercedes can secure a victory against Max Verstappen at some point, but he acknowledges the difficulty of the task. In fact, he believes that the current car is more challenging for their drivers than the notorious W08 from 2017, which earned the nickname 'Diva.' Wolff remains optimistic about beating Verstappen, relying on the team's talented individuals but emphasizing the importance of providing a more predictable and less complicated car.

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