
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 10, 2021 Mercedes Executive Director Toto Wolff in the team principals press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 10, 2021 Mercedes Executive Director Toto Wolff in the team principals press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Acknowledging your weakness and not trying to fit in portrays true strength. Mercedes has been called out for portraying a darker image than its reality. The recent deficiencies, even after dominating the TurboHybrid era is the German automaker’s self-defense against the dark image they’re portraying.
Mercedes has been the most dominant team in F1 ever since the dawn of the Turbo-Hybrid V6 era. The silver arrows won 8 consecutive constructors titles from 2014 to 2021. No one even came close to challenging the German team for the constructor’s title even once. However, new aerodynamic rules were introduced for 2022, allowing the ground effect to return. These new rules led to Mercedes tumbling down the order, finishing 3rd behind Ferrari and Red Bull.
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After the underwhelming display at the first couple of races, Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton have both come out explaining how they are to where they want to be and the zeropod idea needs to be scrapped. Katie George asked Laurence Edmondson whether Mercedes is portraying a darker image than what their actual performance is as finishing P4 and P5 at Jeddah isn’t actually that bad a result.
Edmondson went on to explain the winning mentality at Mercedes and how anything less than that is a disappointment for them. He also suggested that the silver arrows are disappointed because Red Bull is way off into the distance in the performance comparison and that Mercedes have realized they won’t be able to catch them this season.
In the Unlapped podcast when Katie asked about Mercedes’ dark portrayal, Edmondson said “It is not important where they are relative to Aston Martin and Ferrari really. What’s important to them is where they are relative to the front and that’s Red bull. And that gap is huge, And it’s the kind of gap that in any normal season, I believe this would be the case this season, you cannot overturn. And that’s what they’ve realized, and they’ve realized they’ve got to change some fundamental things about their car and that is a very worrying position to be in”
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton expect nothing less than a win. But since that’s not been happening, we’re seeing a side of Mercedes that we hadn’t really seen until now. The disappointment is visible on the faces. Is there any chance for Mercedes and Lewis to make a comeback?
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Can The Silver Arrows save their sinking ship?
Mercedes definitely knows what it takes to make a championship-winning car. But the fact is, they are a long way behind the Red bulls. They need to find at least a 1-second improvement to challenge the Austrian team. Nico Rosberg believes Mercedes needs to find a miracle and that too quickly if they want to make inroads. The problem is Mercedes doesn’t understand the problem with their car and coming up with a new concept in this era of cost cap is difficult.

via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – March 19, 2023 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
According to PlanetF1.com, Nico Rosberg told Sky Germany, ” You have to take a step back this year and then start with the new concept already preparing for the new year. They have to find the miracle weapon and make great progress quickly, but they don’t really understand it themselves and that’s the difficult part.”
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Watch this story: Mercedes F1 Team Owner Bids Against Lewis Hamilton in Chelsea FC Ownership Race
Do you think Mercedes is a little too harsh on itself? Will they make a successful comeback?
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