The Mercedes W13 proved to be a troubled project that hampered the Silver Arrows throughout the duration of 2022. However, Toto Wolff believes that the car can serve a positive purpose now it has been retired.
The W13 is to take pride of place in the Mercedes lobby at Brackley as Wolff backtracked on comments he had made about storing the car at the back of the team’s collection of title winners.
At the launch of its successor, the W14, Wolff explained his decision to keep the W13 on display in Brackley.
“I’ve changed my approach a little bit, because I wanted to put it in the lobby as a reminder that you must not rest on your laurels.
“But actually, I want to place it in the lobby because it is a symbol of boldness for me, and courage. We took a radical design direction last year. We dared and we failed.
“So for me that shows a lot about the mindset of team, how it is important to cope with success or failure at the same time. I wouldn’t want us to go in any shape or form conservative in the future.
“I want us to take a calculated risk and be bold.”
Mercedes ended an eight-year run of successive constructor’s championships in 2022, finishing the season third overall.
Wolff admits that experiencing a difficult season was tough to take following past successes, but he still believes that it will benefit Mercedes in the long term.
“I think what’s great in the team is that there is so much energy and so much motivation,” he explained.
“Because, after many very successful years, you always run the risk that it becomes normal, or it becomes the baseline to win.
“Obviously, we were taught the tough lesson last year that you’ve got to just be the best yourself, [be] the best team in order to fight this formidable competition.
“Therefore, getting it wrong last year, I believe will be good long-term.”
