Toto Wolff has dismissed claims that his Mercedes team were “losers” during a lean period in the previous Formula 1 ground effect era.
The Silver Arrows team headed into the 2022-2025 regulatory shift, having won eight constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles between 2014 and 2021. Placing them as what many would call ‘frontrunners’ for success over the next era. However, that was far from the case.
The Brackley-based squad endured a trial four seasons, falling from Constructors’ champion glory behind its rivals, Red Bull, and McLaren. It was a difficult period for Mercedes, who then saw the loss of seven-time World Champion and Mercedes pioneer Lewis Hamilton.
But despite these lean years, their success came as the sport entered a new hybrid era. From early-season testing, Mercedes were the team to beat, securing the first six race wins of the season. And whilst their rivals have caught up towards the end of the season, their early-season performances were enough to secure both the Teams title and Drivers title, with Kimi Antonelli.
When reflecting on the difficult seasons the team endured, Wolff highlighted how difficult the ground effect era was for the team.
“When you’re in these difficult moments, like we all are sometimes in our lives, it’s not that easy to keep going,” Wolff explained.
“Because looking back in retrospect, you’re saying, ‘Well, yeah, we needed these tough moments in order to grow as people or to grow as an organisation.’ But when you’re down, that is quite difficult to feel.
“So looking back, I think those last four years were very difficult. Between getting it wrong and then understanding why it was wrong, and then realising, ‘No, we didn’t understand’, and that was a big back and forth.”
Wolff claims Mercedes were never “losers” during tough times
Despite the lean and seemingly bleak years for the Silver Arrows team, Wolff was eager to stress that his team were not “losers.” Across the four seasons, Mercedes secured six race victories and 45 podiums. Whilst a significant step down from the winning domination from previous eras, it wasn’t a complete fall off.
Wolff highlighted that whilst the team may have felt down during those seasons, as time unfolds, they’ll focus on their resilience and strong performances,
“But we will be looking back in 10 or 20 years, and when you look at the statistics, it wasn’t that we were complete losers over those four years. Because we finished third, second, fourth and second… (in the Constructors’ standings)
“We won races, won many races. So it wasn’t that bad at all when you look at the sheer numbers, but it felt not good.
“And the resilience of the team, the people that held together in those tough times, is a factor.”
Ultimately, Wolff expressed his delight with the two titles returning to Brackley.
“So it feels really good sealing those two titles,” he said. “Not many sports teams have done that after a consecutive run of championships, then a difficult spell, and then coming back.
“I’m really proud that we are part of this very small group of teams that have done that in all sports.”
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