Mercedes ‘careful’ to avoid Red Bull, Ferrari slumps and insist Formula 1 2022 season less painful than 2021

Ferrari and Red Bull went on downward spirals after their Formula 1 title eras ended and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says: « We are looking at that and thinking… we better be careful »; Wolff says 2022 less painful than 2021 despite poor form, due to the Abu Dhabi finale

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has urged his team to be « careful » to avoid the post-title slumps suffered by Red Bull and Ferrari, but has reiterated that 2022 – which he insists was less painful than 2021 – was necessary to « re-energise » the Formula 1 powerhouse.

Mercedes’ record-breaking run of eight straight championships came to a crushing end in 2022, with the Silver Arrows dropping to third in the standings and only managing one race victory all season.

Such a fall from grace led to Wolff facing questions after the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP if Mercedes were worried about their future as a top-running team – with Ferrari (without a title since 2008) and Red Bull (trophy-less from 2013 to 2021) having struggled in the seasons after their championship eras ended.

« Of course we are talking about it, we are analysing what are the reasons the teams that dominated in the past suddenly lost performance? » responded Wolff.

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was in a despondent mood after Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire and George Russell finished fifth in Abu Dhabi

« You can see with Ferrari, they lost the whole top leadership and a key driver… I think that’s something you can trace back.

« With Red Bull, it was a fundamental situation that the power unit regulation changed upside down, and no works deal. So fundamental parameters changed.

« We are looking at that and thinking… we better be careful. A season has gone by in a heartbeat and we can’t let it happen to look back at the end of next season and the one after, saying ‘that’s bitter’. »

Wolff added that he was confident Mercedes would « avoid the mistakes ».

« We have the same organisation, the same capability, the same funding, » he said. « The other pillars are still in place. »

Wolff on ‘necessary’ 2022 and looking ahead to ’23

Mercedes also believe a season such as 2022 was key to them achieving future success.

« We are 100 per cent sure that this was a year that was necessary for us to re-energise and re-motivate the team, » explained Wolff. « This has again brought us down to the ground, made us appreciate how you win and also understand how difficult it is to recover.

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Nico Rosberg says it will be the ‘ultimate challenge’ for George Russell to finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton for a second successive season

« We’ve started the 100 metre sprint 10 metres behind everyone… so we’ve just got to run faster. This organisation has all it’s needed to run faster. »

Mercedes will be aiming to bounce back next season, particularly against Red Bull after their whopping 205-point title victory.

« There’s no fear, but we need to be sharp. » said Wolff.

« I’m a glass half-empty man. I’m not sure at all we can bounce back to a position where we can fight for championships.

« You need to acknowledge that the competition is strong but we will do everything in our power to set our objectives and try to beat them. »

‘2021 less painful than 2022’

Wolff also insists 2022 was less painful than the 2021 season, when Mercedes had a title-winning car but had Lewis Hamilton being denied the drivers’ crown to Max Verstappen in a controversial Abu Dhabi GP finale.

Asked which of the two seasons were more painful, the team principal said: « Last year, without any doubt.

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Lewis Hamilton says the struggles Mercedes have faced with the car this year will ‘provide the tools and strength’ to fight for more championships in the future

« Last year was strong and how it ended… it’s out of control. It was the first time I had lost control since I was an adolescent and in my sense of fairness, that was totally against my values.

« This year was not as peaky in terms of the emotions because we knew from the get-go that the car was just not good enough.

« We know it was our doing… Abu Dhabi wasn’t. We knew we got it wrong. We’re conscious others did a good job, and this is an absolute meritocracy how it worked out. This is OK. »