Mercedes boss Toto Wolff doesn’t want the team to squander any chances for Formula 1 success next season, despite a major regulation change looming in 2026.
The current ground effect rule cycle ushered in 2022 saw Mercedes’ F1 dominance curtailed.
In 2024, Mercedes executed a mid-season turnaround to win three of the last four races before the summer break courtesy of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Alas, the team ran into performance trouble once again as the campaign resumed in late August.
Still, even with a rules shakeup in 2026, Wolff won’t give up on Mercedes’ 2025 chances for gains further down the road.
“This is the crux of the matter every year, and especially if you have such a big regulatory change, are you going to compromise one year or the other?” Wolff told Autosport.
Wolff recalled the advice of his late friend and mentor, Niki Lauda.
“Niki’s motto, when being asked, ‘Would you rather win this one or the next one?’ he says, ‘Both.’”
Toto Wolff and Mercedes thinking differently compared to rivals amid 2026 rules change
Mercedes’ attitude towards the 2026 regulations, which feature active aerodynamics, new dimensions for the cars and greater electrification, differs from some of its rivals.
The likes of Aston Martin and Williams are pinning the majority of their hopes on 2026 and beyond, seeing 2025 as a sacrificial lamb for greater gains in the future.
Mercedes however, is a team expected to challenge for victories on a consistent basis and as shareholder, CEO and Team Principal, Wolff has to think differently.
“Nobody’s going to switch the machines off in January, unless you are really nowhere,” Wolff explained.
“But there is nothing to gain, because between P10 and P7 doesn’t make a difference for us anyway. We are fighting for victories and podiums, and cannot write it off.”
Wolff did admit that “the transition of people and capability into the 2026 regulations is going to happen a bit earlier than it would under stable regulations, but it’s not going to be game-changing.”
Current championship position ‘not satisfying’ for Mercedes
Mercedes, with six rounds remaining in the 2024 campaign, looks like a team destined to finish fourth in this year’s Constructors’ standings.
Less than 100 points cover the top three teams: McLaren (516), Red Bull (475) and Ferrari (441).
Mercedes a more than 100 points adrift of that trio with a tally of 329 points and Wolff wants more from the once-dominant force in F1.
“The objective that we have set ourselves every year is to win races,” he said. “We have won three – two were on merit.
“So you can say, from that standpoint, we are meeting certain expectations. But if you look at all of the season, we’re not.
“It’s extremely tight now, between four teams, which is eight cars. And unfortunately, due to non-performance, DNFs, the gap to the leading team is just too big.
“So we find ourselves in a position in the constructors championship which is not satisfying at all.”
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