Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, reaffirmed the team’s determination not to give up on developing their 2025 car, as they have big ambitions that cannot be achieved by abandoning it. Despite their struggles in Formula 1 since the beginning of the ground effect era, the Silver Arrows have only managed to win one race since 2021. This season has also been disappointing for them, but Wolff made it clear that they will not abandon the current set of rules.
In 2026, Formula 1 will introduce new regulations, including new power units, which could give Mercedes the best chance to return to the front of the grid. However, Wolff stated that they will not sacrifice the development of the 2025 car to allocate more resources to the new regulations.
Wolff expressed that Mercedes is not satisfied with their current state in the sport, where they have little chance of winning races. The team and their sponsors have much bigger ambitions, and they will continue to push the limits to maximize the potential of their car next season. It is important to note that teams are still not allowed to start developing cars for the 2026 rules.
While Wolff acknowledges that Mercedes is unlikely to surpass Red Bull next season, he believes that the new regulations will provide all teams with a realistic opportunity to challenge Red Bull’s dominance. However, he also emphasizes that there is still a season and a half left before the new rules come into effect. Wolff hopes that the team will not face more difficulties and instead see an upward trajectory with decent results in the next eighteen months.
Indisputably, Mercedes finds itself in a challenging position under the current rules. Despite their attempts to adopt different design strategies, they have failed to match Red Bull’s performance. However, Toto Wolff continues to have faith in the team’s efforts with their current car. Fans will be eager for the possibility of seeing the Brackley-based team compete for a win in the coming weeks.