After falling from the top to the third in the constructor’s championship last year, Mercedes aimed for a strong comeback in 2023. But sadly, this year, they had to accept that they are now not the third but the fourth team. With the Aston Martin, Mercedes’s wound has been scratched even more deeply. And the fact that the British team with the Mercedes engine managed to do what Mercedes itself could not is more humiliating now.
Today, the Brackley-based team needs to battle Red Bull. And with the same force, they need to defeat Aston Martin, too, in order to become the top contenders for the 2023 F1 championship. However, this sudden rivalry between the Astons and the Silver Arrows has ruined the once-very-good relationship between Toto Wolff and Lawrence Stroll.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and the Mogul Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin’s owner, have been into disputes after a breach in the no-poaching agreement. Believing in rumors, the duo’s relationship has taken a rift. But recently, Toto Wolff emerged to give a clear verdict. First of all, Wolff claimed the rumors to be false. Then he said, “Our relationship is very good, although strictly professional.“
It is, without a doubt, true that Lawrence’s constant struggle to make the British team progress better has brought the spotlight on him. He is not just the owner of Aston Martin but also a billionaire. He has shared a very good relationship with Toto Wolff, who recently joined him in the billionaire club.
However, since last year, when a few valuable assets for Mercedes resigned from the team to work in Martin’s team, some friction between the friends was seen. Still, Wolff says that “We know that we fight face to face. Above these fightings, I have Mercedes prestige.”
It Is Not Hard For Mercedes To Overtake Aston Martin
Currently, in the constructor’s standings, Red Bull has 123 points, incredible, indeed. Behind the reigning champion team is Aston Martin, with exact half points, 65. And behind them stands Mercedes with 56 points. The German squad luckily surpassed Ferrari and made a huge gap between them with 30 points ahead.
Mercedes is just 9 points behind Aston Martin. With the amazing moves of Fernando Alonso, the team may have secured three podiums in all three races held so far. But will they be able to maintain this 9 points gap between Mercedes forever? Well, it does not appear to be. Because Lewis Hamilton is back. In the Australian Grand Prix, we saw history getting repeat itself. We saw Mercedes getting the fastest again. The upgrades they are bringing in the W14 paved the way for Hamilton to secure a P2 ahead of Fernando Alonso.
And it will be wise to think that more upgrades in the car will lead the team to win a race soon. If Mrcedes remains successful in changing the aerodynamics department and some design of the car, then no one in the world would ever stop them from getting wheels to wheels with Red Bull. Now that the Chinese Grand Prix has been canceled. Mercedes has 4 weeks in hand to bring major upgrades. So next in Imola, there will definitely be a bang.
