Mercedes’ drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were on hand to celebrate their team clinching their second Constructors’ Championship alongside the hundreds of employees that made it possible.
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: Congratulations to the whole team. We’ve done it one more time and this championship unites everybody together – the drivers and the team in Brixworth and Brackley. From go-karting onwards, the titles that everybody talks about are the individual ones for the drivers, but this time both Nico and Lewis are winners. Yesterday, we let Nico down, but he has been such a fundamental part of the team from the beginning, he has helped make the team what it is and this is his championship as well. Lewis is riding the crest of the wave and having an incredible season. He has built himself into this team since 2013 and helped carry us forward with his determination and hard work. We owe them both so much. In our sport, we tend to move on very quickly and concentrate on the next weekend and challenge. But today, we must all take a minute and think about the words ‘World Champion’. For this year, we can say we were the best in the world and that is something very special indeed. But none of us is complacent enough to think that this earns us anything for the future. If we want to call ourselves champions again, we will have to work even harder and even better for 2016.
Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical): To celebrate back-to-back world championships is something that most of us can only dream of. In this business, it’s not enough simply to work hard – you have to work smart, too. It doesn’t happen overnight, or in a couple of years, but has been built up over a great deal of time thanks to the commitment from Mercedes-Benz. And it’s a result of the integration of effort and intellect between the teams in Brixworth and Brackley, to deliver the best Power Unit in the best racing car on the grid. Everybody had the same opportunity to perform under the regulations – and each of you has earned the right to celebrate today. I would also like to thank Nico and Lewis for their great skill and also their great professionalism out on track every day. It’s so easy to take for granted but we are privileged to work with two of the very best. Let’s celebrate the moment – and then get back to work to make sure we can win again.
Andy Cowell, Managing Director, Mercedes AMG HPP: Yesterday was a very special day for us all – and especially to accept the race-winning constructor’s trophy on behalf of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth. It is with great pride that I thank everyone at both factories for making that possible. It’s not one individual who makes these things happen – it’s a fantastic team working in unison. The working relationship between our two sites is exceptional. Just last weekend I was admiring the beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail on this car. The level of design, engineering, manufacture and integration is truly outstanding. Hopefully we will continue to produce fantastic racing cars and potent Power Units for many years to come.
Lewis Hamilton: It’s been great to see everyone at the factories, as always. When I joined the team back in 2013, coming to a new place and a new environment was really daunting and I didn’t know how it was going to play out. But I feel very much part of the family. When I heard we’d won the title yesterday I think I was yelling louder than anyone! Seeing how much effort goes into getting us to the front of the grid and having the success we’ve enjoyed together makes me so proud of each and every person involved. While we will all be getting straight back into the hard work, I hope everyone gets a chance to just take a step back for a moment and realise what we’ve achieved together. I know everyone at the factories will keep pushing to keep us at the front and myself and Nico will definitely be doing the same. I just want to mention too what a great team-mate Nico is. He’s had a much tougher season so far than I have but has been a real team player throughout and I know he’ll be fighting back through the many years to come in which we’ll no doubt be competing hard against each other. I’ve been racing with Mercedes-Benz since I was 13 and have actually never competed with another engine since Formula 3, so the star is in my blood and I’ll keep pushing to put many more stars on that Constructors’ trophy.
Nico Rosberg: It’s been a tough couple of days for me – but being back at the factories and seeing all my colleagues so happy after the Championship win really puts a smile back on my face. I’ve seen this team grow since the start of the Silver Arrows project in 2010 and the level we’ve got to now, all working together, is unbelievable. There were some really tough years at the start but we are now the big team of Formula One – dominating the sport and breaking records along the way. When people think of F1 throughout history, it’s only a handful of teams like McLaren in the 80’s, Williams in the 90’s and Ferrari in the 2000’s that come to mind – and we are now making our own mark on that list. It’s a very special feeling to be a part of that and everyone at the factories in Brackley and Brixworth should be extremely proud of themselves – from the guys and girls on the machines to our leaders who have been spectacular. What’s amazing is that there’s so much potential here too. Together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve in the coming years. So, once again, a big thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to get us where we are today. I look forward to many more great memories and exciting times ahead.
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