Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff announces that he will leave no stone unturned to return to the top in 2024 – According to Martin Brundle, it will be “an important year “
2023 was almost a historic season for Mercedes in Formula 1 – but not in a positive way. After failing to win a world title in 2022 for the first time since 2013, they didn’t even win a race in 2023
The last time this happened to the Silver Arrows was in the 2011 season, when Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher were still driving for the team. Expert Martin Brundle therefore suggested on Sky that the former world series champion could be at a crossroads.
2024 will be “an important year for Mercedes” because: “There’s no doubt that Mercedes are no longer the force they once were, because they didn’t get the car right for 2022 and they haven’t improved it for 2023.”
“You see it in other sports where a group of people can’t seem to lose. And then suddenly they can’t win. It’s really strange, and all it takes is two or three pieces of the puzzle changing one way or the other,” explained Brundle.
Wolff refers to “long-term perspective “
“They are a strong team,” emphasizes the expert, but he also points out that there has been “a lot of personnel movement” at Brackley and Brixworth recently. Mike Elliott, who had previously been Chief Technical Officer, recently left the team.
Mercedes had already had to cope with a number of departures in the past, with long-serving Head of Strategy James Vowles, for example, leaving for Williams for the 2023 season to take on the role of Team Principal.
This is probably why the 2024 season will be so important for Mercedes. After just one victory in the past two years, the team must show that it still has what it takes to fight for victories and titles at the top of Formula 1 in the long term.
Team Principal Toto Wolff explains in this context: “I have a long-term perspective. I have a board in our factory on which all the constructors’ world championship titles since 1958 are listed. And the table goes on until 2050.”
So there are still 27 vacancies on this board, “and I would like to be able to look back in 20 years and say that there are many more Mercedes stars,” says Wolff, who also reminds us that Mercedes is still doing very well in the overall context.
Why Mercedes is “changing every part” for 2024
After becoming Constructors’ World Champion eight times in a row between 2014 and 2021, third (2022) and second (2023) in the World Championship would only make the strong record of the past ten years look slightly worse, Wolff emphasizes.
You have to be “humble”, says the Austrian, who explains that it was a good achievement to finish runner-up behind Red Bull last season. At the same time, however, he made it clear that P2 also meant that they had “lost” first place.
“So we are changing the concept [of the car for 2024]. We are completely moving away from the way we designed the chassis, the weight distribution, the airflow. Literally almost every part has been changed because I think that’s the only way we have a chance,” said Wolff.
George Russell also emphasizes: “The positive thing is that we are not worrying about why we are so far behind Red Bull. We see so many weaknesses in this car. That motivates everyone in the factory to pursue these problems.”
“Of course, I expect Red Bull to make another step. But I have no doubt that we will be in a stronger position in Bahrain [at the start of the 2024 season] than we were in Bahrain this year,” Russell explains with cautious optimism.
Wolff expects progress from competitors
Wolff has a slightly different attitude and explains with a grin: “I’ve never felt optimistic in my life.” The Mercedes team boss is known for his skepticism and explains that the new W15 for 2024 could also be “wrong”.
In his opinion, anything is possible, from a complete failure “to catching up and taking a big step forward”. “If you ask me today, there’s always skepticism, but that’s the mentality in the team that drives us to never give up,” he explains.
Because in view of the large gap, you have to “climb Mount Everest to catch up with Red Bull”, he emphasizes and explains: “I have no doubt that McLaren will be at the front next year, and maybe Aston Martin and maybe others.”
“We must and will leave no stone unturned in Brixworth and Brackley,” he therefore announces with a view to the 2024 Formula 1 season, which could be a landmark year for Mercedes.
