Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed how the Brackley-based team is planning to come under the top title contenders of the 2023 world championship.
Team Mercedes somehow forgot how to meet the expectations once 2022 started. After a lackluster season last year in which the W13 could only secure a solitary win for the team, fans expected a strong W14. In terms of announcing a change in a car in 2023, Mercedes changed its traditional silver to the black livery. But changing the color of the car could not change its performance. Following the Bahrain Grand Prix’s result, which gave Mercedes only a P5 and P7, one thing was clear; the W14 needs a “game changer.”
The unique side pod concept secured the pride of the German squad for not copying Red Bull or anyone else. But the desperation to win a race remains alive in Mercedes. The team can’t risk Lewis Hamilton‘s dignity anymore. Many F1 pundits have already declared the doom for Mercedes. What if 2023 becomes even worse than 2022? If Lewis wants to take back the championship that was taken from him, he will need a strong car as RB19. But all he gets is W14 with no pace and downforce. Changes are meant to be established in the latest creation of Mercedes. So let’s see how these changes are being made.
Last year, Mercedes had two major challenges, Red Bull and Ferrari. But this year, there are three, Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Ferrari. The competition is tougher this year as all the teams came up with basic improvements after getting familiar with the new technical rules that were launched last year.
A Little Upgrade In Jeddah Might Bring Mercedes On The Right Path, Says Toto Wolff
Just after the world realized that its Red Bull for the win again after seeing their 1-2 victory at Sakhir, Toto Wolff realized some things too. He acknowledged that Mercedes’ performance in Bahrain was definitely not what they wanted it to be. But this is what the team has got. The back positions, where Mercedes was never found in the last decade, are where they are now. There is full steam ahead of the W14, and to understand it and get in a better place is all they gotta do.
Wolff finds it a very exciting challenge for Mercedes. He revealed that after the season opener race, the team conducted meetings and had honest discussions about the strong comeback they are still lacking to bring on. But sadly, Mercedes is quite late. In this short term, they will have to leave no stone unturned.
And speaking of the long term, the Brackley-based team will need to focus on the developments. Determining the ways through which they can get back to the front of the grids. The boss, who visits the factory every day, looks at the zeal of the engineers and workers and can figure out that the energy and determination are there in the team. And now they need to come forward with better moves.
The most important and major upgrade Mercedes is bringing in Jeddah. Wolff claimed the changes to be small developments in the car which might not be the game changer. But “they can let us move in the right direction,” he said.
