Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has claimed that its struggles in Formula 1 since 2022 must be put into perspective considering the droughts other teams have sustained.
The German marque entered the most recent regulation reset as the side to beat having been on an unrivalled run of eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships.
However, Mercedes has been unable to replicate that success with the current ground effect cars, with George Russell’s triumph in Brazil in 2022 its sole win to date.
Despite harbouring renewed hope with its revised car concept, Mercedes has endured an underwhelming start to the season and lies a distant fourth in the standings.
But Wolff has pointed to the prolonged wait rivals Ferrari and McLaren are both experiencing to land another title as evidence that Mercedes’ shortfalls are overblown.
“We have finished first 115 times and we have been knocked down over the last 50 races,” Wolff told the PA news agency.
“That is not where we want to be and it feels horrible on the day. But on the Monday morning we regroup and we go again.
“Ferrari haven’t won a Constructors’ championship since 2008. Red Bull did not win eight times in a row because we were winning.
“So we have to look at it with a certain perspective and say it is the third year where we have not won. It is not eight. It is not 16.
“When did McLaren win their last Constructors’ championship? 1998. And their last Drivers’ title? With Lewis in 2008.
“We finished second last year. It is not good enough.
“But if you look at it in 10 or 20 years, you will see that we won eight championships in a row and then we lost three, or maybe four, but not 16.”
Wolff, who penned an extended three-year deal to remain at the helm on the eve of the season, insists that he still retains the desire to turn around Mercedes’ fortunes.
He added: “I have always been very self-critical and introspective. Is this what I am good at? Am I working in something that I understand and I feel I can contribute?
“I ask myself that question all the time, for 30 years and the decision I have taken is that I am a co-owner of this business and I am going to stay a co-owner of this business, whether I am team principal or CEO or chairman.
“I have had it in the past where suddenly you have that moment where you think there is somebody that could do this better, whether that is because they have more energy, more intelligence, more knowledge, or more compassion.
“That day will come but jointly (with co-owners’ Ineos and Mercedes-Benz AG) we have not identified who the next person will be.
“I still love it. Maybe one day I wake up and I don’t love it. There might be a stone falling on my head and I am not team principal anymore.
“But this is the destiny I am choosing with my co-shareholders.
“I have signed a new three-year contract and I am going to be the most permanent unless I die, but maybe in various roles in the top management.”
