Mercedes, a team that once defined success in the 2010s, has failed to win a single race since 2022. Despite lofty expectations for the 2024 project, it has fallen short. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are distraught with the W15’s speed. Their disappointment is evident, as they have failed to finish at the top this season.
Moreover, the team is in the midst of a slump. The German team has also lost its ‘Elite team’ status. While the engineers at Brackely are doing their best, the current situation is challenging to solve. As the squad waits for answers, former F1 technical director Paddy Lowe examines his ex-team’s issue.
The Misstep Has Made The Comeback ‘Very Difficult’ For Mercedes
The eight-time constructors’ world champions struggle to create a race-winning vehicle. Previously, in the hybrid V6 era, Mercedes was invincible, winning every constructor and driver world championship from 2014 to 2020. Even in 2021, the team was among the elites of F1 but lost the title owing to a contentious judgment in Abu Dhabi. However, things went bad with the 2022 regulatory revamp. The ground impact was one of the worst horrors for the Silver Arrows, and they have yet to discover a way out.
The team was enthusiastic about the modification in 2024, but it had no noteworthy outcomes. After the Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton revealed his discontent with the W15, claiming that it is ‘slow.’ The problem persisted at Monaco GP despite a decent run. Moreover, Mercedes’ customer McLaren and rival Ferrari are improving every weekend as they aim to tackle the Red Bull team. Meanwhile, Mercedes is fighting for its place as their technical struggle continues.
Paddy Lowe, who worked for the Brackley-based squad from 2013 to 2017, has evaluated the issue. He feels the crew overlooked some important aerodynamic principles. In an interview with Motorsports.com, Lowe believes that F1 is more than simply skill; fortune also plays a factor.
As a result, even after fitting all of the parts together, the outcomes are far from realistic. He said that Mercedes’ technical crew took a ‘wrong turn,’ landing them in a puddle. Furthermore, things will become ‘really challenging’ since they may or may not improve. Lowe recalled 1992 with Williams when they defeated the unquestionable champions, McLaren. Furthermore, he believes Mercedes may face unforeseen consequences following the 2026 regulatory reshuffle.
Toto Wolff Takes A Sly Dig At Rival Ferrari And Red Bull
On the other hand, Toto Wolff targeted Ferrari and Red Bull. The Mercedes chief was addressing the team’s poor performance. The Mercedes team has not won a single race since 2022. Furthermore, they are distant from contending for the global championship.
Consequently, during a conversation, Wolff stated that Ferrari had not won a world title since 2008. In contrast, Red Bull failed to win a title for eight years in a row while the German marque dominated the circuit. Withal said that eight and sixteen years are far greater than three years. It signifies that the team’s manager has entire faith in his squad as they work to make a comeback.