Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff asserts that Mercedes must “get back to basics” for 2024 to rectify the car issues that Lewis Hamilton has complained about this year.
Mercedes entered this season hopeful of returning to title contention after only claiming a solitary victory upon the overhaul to Formula 1’s technical rules last year.
However, the team remains winless in 2023 and has achieved fewer podiums than both its engine customers – Aston Martin and McLaren – despite sitting second overall.
But aside from Mercedes struggling for performance, Hamilton revealed earlier this year he’s experiencing trouble with the W14’s cockpit position being too far forward.
Wolff claims Mercedes must strive to ensure any comparable complaints aren’t prevalent from either of its two drivers next season.
“We have to get back to basics,” Wolff told Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I don’t want to hear Lewis say anymore ‘My cockpit is too far forward’.”
Amid its stuttering start, Mercedes abandoned its ‘zeropod’ concept with the introduction of a revised car with modified bodywork at the Monaco Grand Prix in May.
Wolff insists that Mercedes understands the reasons why its previous philosophy failed, adding the German side’s only focus now is on delivering a more compliant car.
“We know what we understand and will not pay attention to what we do not understand,” he added.
“The biggest problem is that the drivers have no confidence in the car. We have to give them a solid foundation to score good points.”
Red Bull wrapped up the Constructors’ title in Japan with a record six rounds to spare.
However, the disparity between its two drivers couldn’t be greater. Max Verstappen has taken 14 victories compared to Sergio Perez’s two and 209 points separate the duo.
Subsequently, Wolff concedes that Red Bull’s dominance has been amplified by Verstappen’s relentless run towards a third Drivers’ Championship, clinched in Qatar.
“There is only one man at the moment who stands head and shoulders above the rest,” Wolff admitted. “Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren and us are all in the same situation.
“At least we are second in the Constructors’ Championship, because after all these years we have learned how to optimise our results. It’s just that no one comes close to Verstappen.”
However, Wolff remains optimistic that Mercedes can catch Red Bull even before the regulations are changed in 2026.
Hamilton acknowledged last month that the Brackley-based squad would require its “greatest six months of development” ever to battle Red Bull from the outset in 2024.
“By 2026 we will be at the top again, but I wouldn’t be in this sport if I didn’t think it was possible to overtake Red Bull,” he declared.
“If we can find three or four-tenths, then we are part of the fight again.”
