From the top down, here’s how roster stability has been key to an eight-year run of F1 Constuctors’ Championships.
The World Champions have shown off its W13, the car with which it hopes to claim a record-extending ninth consecutive Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
Can Mercedes do it?
Reasons to Be Optimistic
It’s Mercedes. They have been the benchmark in the sport since 2014, sometimes brutally so, destroying both records and the aspirations of their rivals.
The team has won the last eight Constructors’ titles, an unprecedented streak, and that period has covered changes of regulation and changes of senior technical personnel. That is a testament to the culture and ethos that was first installed and consequently developed. Yes, life is more fun when you’re winning, but there’s been no drop in motivation or dedication, and every season they reset to zero, never resting on their laurels.
Even with the minor 2021 aerodynamic regulation changes hurting its design philosophy, it got on top of its car, recovered from a sizeable points deficit mid-season, and retained its title.
Despite an evolving team, the core members have been there for a prolonged period. Team principal Toto Wolff joined the team in 2014, driver Lewis Hamilton a year earlier Senior figures, including chief strategist James Vowles and sporting director Ron Meadows pre-date Mercedes’ 2010 takeover.
In the 37-year-old Hamilton, Mercedes has Formula 1’s most successful driver of all time and a driver capable of delivering the implausible and normalizing the unlikely. He is Formula 1’s Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady or Michael Jordan—a competitor who has transcended his arena and defied expected convention.
Hamilton has ticked every box in Formula 1 history yet continues to evolve and adapt, and he fully understands how to extract the most from himself and his team. What’s more, Hamilton typically performs at his best when he perceives to be up against the world—and after the heartbreak of 2021’s finale that’s where he is. Off-track he continues to inspire through his projects, both within motorsport and in wider society, to drive greater diversity and tackle race-related stigmas.
George Russell replaces Valtteri Bottas in the No. 2 spot in the Mercedes driver lineup behind Lewis Hamilton.
Clive RoseGetty Images
The promotion of 24-year-old George Russell represents Mercedes looking to the future, as the Briton goes from a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big pond. Russell has spent three years with Williams, impressing with his speed and aptitude, but also has history with Mercedes. He has been part of Mercedes since 2017, including undertaking several tests, while he was en route to victory in his starring stand-in in Bahrain in 2020 until a botched stop and a puncture.
Mercedes has carefully nurtured Russell’s career and consequently will limit expectations for 2022—an aspect that should smooth Russell’s path in turn. His initial benchmark should be what Valtteri Bottas achieved, not keeping with or even beating Hamilton. That’s for the far future.
Reasons to Be Pessimistic
Mercedes’ power unit has been the benchmark for much of Formula 1’s turbo hybrid era. But in 2021 it was seriously threatened by Honda, and showed weaker reliability and higher mileage degradation on its power units. Addressing that will be crucial as Formula 1 heads into its engine freeze, not just for the PU performance, but how it translates into potential through the rest of its package. Early mileage should determine whether it has addressed that flaw. Could Mercedes get its chassis wrong? Well, sure, from the summit the only way is down the mountain, but it hasn’t got it wrong in a very long time.
Are there weaknesses for a driver with seven titles and 103 wins? Hamilton obliterated his rivals across the last four races of 2021, but elsewhere there were a smattering of errors, albeit magnified by his stature, the extraordinary level at which he has operated from 2018 through 2020 and the intensity of his battle against Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
One other element is that time waits for no man. Modern science, and a greater understanding of training techniques and nutrition means careers in most sporting environments are longer. But Hamilton is now 37, striving to become Formula 1’s oldest champion since 1993, and every year presents fresh obstacles and dwindling returns. Additionally Hamilton forged a strong working relationship with Bottas and that chapter has now closed.
Checking out the new whip. 👀 pic.twitter.com/a1aSvPfCiK
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 22, 2022
Russell has the opportunity of a lifetime but has to become accustomed to a new team with new practices and protocols. He also has the most successful driver of all time as his benchmark, and now needs to deliver week in, week out, at the very top. Russell has so far ticked every box en route to this point, and relatively weaker race displays versus qualifying were more down to Williams’ prior processes and potential than Russell’s ability. But the game has changed, and he must now meet higher goals than merely surpass modest expectations.
While Russell is not being signed for his chance to win a title in 2022, he’s the future of the team for 2023, 2024 and beyond. He will have to at least fill Bottas-sized shoes this season if Mercedes is to retain its crown.
What to Expect
This is a team that has historically mastered regulatory resets and has the greatest driver in history onboard. The goal is a ninth F1 Constructors’ Championship and record eight title for Hamilton.
You’d be bold to bet against it.
Keyword: The Secret to Mercedes' F1 Dominance Is Really No Secret