Mercedes clinches fifth successive F1 Constructors’ crown

Mercedes has clinched its fifth straight Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship with one round of the 2018 season to spare.

Mercedes arrived at the Brazilian Grand Prix 55 points clear and needed to avoid being out-scored by Ferrari by 13 points in order to wrap up the crown before Abu Dhabi’s season finale.

That was achieved as Lewis Hamilton took victory in a dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix, putting the crown out of Ferrari's reach.

It is only the second time in history that a team has won five straight Constructors’ titles, following on from Ferrari’s six in a row from 1999 to 2004.

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Mercedes’ fifth crown moves it above Red Bull on the all-time list, behind Ferrari (16), Williams (9), McLaren (8) and Lotus (7).

The title was not awarded during Mercedes’ previous Formula 1 era in the mid-1950s, having been officially introduced in 1958.

Mercedes returned to Formula 1 as an engine supplier in the mid-1990s, enjoying success with McLaren, before acquiring the title-winning Brawn outfit at the end of 2009.

But the squad was still feeling the effects of Honda’s withdrawal in late 2008, with staff numbers significantly reduced and purse strings tightened, leaving Mercedes in the midfield group.

Nico Rosberg took a handful of podiums in 2010 but it took a further two years for Mercedes to triumph, with Rosberg victorious in China, and Michael Schumacher quickest during qualifying at Monaco.

Mercedes signed Lewis Hamilton to partner Rosberg for 2013 and the team improved to finish runner-up to Red Bull, with three wins, while Toto Wolff arrived in place of Ross Brawn to lead the operation.

Mercedes targeted the new-for-2014 engine formula as an opportunity to flex its muscles and it exerted a level of dominance rarely seen before in Formula 1.

In both 2014 and 2015 Mercedes swept to the Constructors’ Crown with 16 wins and 18 pole positions from 19 Grands Prix, setting new points records in the process.

An expanded 2016 calendar facilitated Mercedes in setting more records – Hamilton and Rosberg combined to take 19 wins and 20 pole positions from 21 races, and racked up 765 points from a possible 903.

Overhauled aerodynamic regulations for 2017 brought Ferrari, and to a lesser extent Red Bull, back into the equation, while Mercedes also faced internal reshuffling as Valtteri Bottas replaced the retired Rosberg and James Allison arrived in place of Paddy Lowe.

Mercedes relinquished the lead of the Constructors’ battle for the first time since the 2014 season-opener but bounced back to get on top of its ‘diva’ W08, aided by mistakes and reliability setbacks for Ferrari.

Mercedes wound up with 12 wins and 15 poles from the 20 Grands Prix, as Bottas added his name to the list of Formula 1 race winners.

A similar narrative has unfolded this season with Mercedes ultimately easing clear of Ferrari after the summer break to take a fifth straight crown in the battle between the teams.

It is good news for the 1500 Mercedes employees who are in line to receive a substantial bonus – as they have done annually since 2014.

Mercedes’ Constructors’ success meant it has achieved the ‘double’ in each season of the hybrid era, with Hamilton (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and Rosberg (2016) having secured the respective Drivers’ title.