Not with a team of stars, but with a super-team mentality: that’s how Toto Wolff has built Mercedes’ successes, and with this mindset, he aims to reclaim the throne in Formula 1. As he reflects on the end of this season, the Stuttgart-based team principal appears highly charged for the future in a video released by Mercedes.
Wolff states, “The challenging races are the ones where we learn the most. As we always say, our opponents will regret our losses because we will continue to grow.” This growth is based precisely on collective work: “We don’t want to be a team of stars, but a superstar squad.”
It’s clear that Wolff cannot be pleased with 2023, a year in which Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, failed to triumph in any single race. “Throughout the year, we understood that our car was not as stable as we had predicted. It was clear that the interaction between the chassis and the tires was not working perfectly. This was the most important lesson,” says Wolff. Despite facing tough moments, he emphasizes important results in Abu Dhabi, closing the season with a second-place finish for constructors.
Reflecting on the sprint victory with Ferrari for second place after Red Bull, Wolff says, “I always want to win, and second or third place has never made a big difference to me. But here, we have some advantages in terms of sport, shedding light at the end of the tunnel for the next season. We also have a financial bonus for our entire staff. The second place in the World Championship that night was fantastic. I didn’t expect to experience this feeling, but it was a morale boost for the whole team, and that is important.”
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Wolff analyzes expectations, saying, “We have a big mountain to climb. We face a team that is so successful (Red Bull), and there is a big gap to fill. However, I believe we have taken some measures to get closer to them. Now it remains to be seen in the tests and then in the first race in Bahrain if the work has worked. What I can say is that I am super excited, and I would like the season to start now,” officially issuing the challenge to Red Bull.
