Mercedes-Benz

TOTO WOLFF has promised to “trust the process” as his Mercedes team try to turn their fortunes around.Mercedes have watched Red Bull dominate the start to the Formula One season with Wolff admitting the team have again made mistakes with this year’s car design.
Toto Wolff (R) hopes to pull a struggling Mercedes team back to the top of the gridCredit: Rex
Wolff’s top driver Lewis Hamilton has been vocal about this year’s car and its lack of performanceCredit: AFP
He has since promised to send the team back to the drawing board with a view to getting back to the top-step of the podium.
Wolff said: “It’s been difficult so far. With the way we developed the car, we were hopeful of sorting out our issues from last year.
“We realised we weren’t coming out of the blocks where we expected to be. Having said that, we don’t feel any sense of entitlement.
“This is the toughest competition in the world, and it wouldn’t be such a fantastic challenge if it was easy.
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“Three races into the season, we saw that one team is setting the benchmark now.
“But I believe 100 per cent in our organisation, because our perspective is not always on a single race weekend, not even a single season.
“It’s trying to build our capability so we are successful over multiple years, while recognising the fact you are never going to win every single season, because no sports team has ever done it.
“We need to have a steeper development curve than Red Bull and fundamentally, we want to compete for race wins.
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The team managed to close some of the gap to Red Bull in AustraliaCredit: Getty
Red Bull and Aston Martin are currently above Mercedes in the constructors’ standingsCredit: AFP
“They are setting the benchmark now. We trust in the process and in the people, and there will be setbacks.
“But if the trajectory is up, that’s where we want to be heading.”
With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix next weekend, Mercedes sit third in the constructors’ standings, behind Red Bull and Aston Martin.
The weekend will include the first sprint race of the season, with lights out at 2:30pm on Saturday 29th.

Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

NICO ROSBERG has revealed his retirement from F1 came partly due to him being “afraid” in the car.The German-Finn, 37, won the nailbiting 2016 drivers’ championship with Mercedes, pipping Lewis Hamilton by five points on the last race of the season.
Nico Rosberg beat Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the 2016 titleCredit: EPA
Rosberg opened up to Men’s Health about his decision to retireCredit: Men’s Health
That second place finish in Abu Dhabi behind Lewis proved to be his final race in the sport as he left F1 after a decade on the grid.
Many were surprised by Rosberg’s decision to walk away when he had just reached the top.
But he is well aware, particularly when looking at the racing now, that he made the right move.
Speaking to Men’s Health, the son of 1982 F1 world champion Keke, said: “Sometimes, looking at the circuits, I think it’s good that I no longer compete. For example, in Baku you can reach 360km/h between walls.
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Rosberg flew over the top of Narain Karthikeyan in Abu Dhabi in 2012Credit: YouTube
“Yes, there were moments in which I was afraid, because, unlike other pilots, I am not a daredevil.”
He added: “I was afraid that I wouldn’t be fast enough if I kept going. And that at some point there wouldn’t be any team left that wanted me.”

Rosberg suffered a huge crash in Abu Dhabi in 2012 when he collided with Narain Karthikeyan.
He came away unscathed from the incident, but reflecting on moments such as these make him all the more pleased he stopped when he did.
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He said: “It’s better to stop too soon than too late, I wanted to be able to decide for myself.”
Rosberg is now a regular pundit for Sky Sports’ F1 coverage as he travels around the world following the sport.
The ex-Mercedes man went on to add: “I always lived from one career to the next and never asked myself if I had more than my passions.
“As a world champion and driver I was at the top, while in new projects you start from the bottom. That’s interesting and instructive.”
Meanwhile, ex-team-mate Hamilton, 38, claimed four F1 titles in a row after Rosberg’s departure from the sport.
But he faces a huge battle to clinch a record-breaking eighth championship as Red Bull and Max Verstappen have emerged as the dominant force in the paddock. More

LEWIS HAMILTON did not cut the image of a man who was sweating over his Formula One future when he turned up at the Coachella festival last week.Dressed in a vibrant yellow shirt and orange trousers he was bound to stand out from the crowd in the Southern Californian desert.
Lewis Hamilton has been partying at CoachellaCredit: Instagram
The seven-time world champion’s Mercedes contract is up at the end of the yearCredit: Instagram
But while he enjoyed himself, it also meant that his contract negotiations with Mercedes were also placed on hold.
Hamilton is out of contract in 255 days – and that, of course, is still plenty of time if we are led to believe that his open discussions with boss Toto Wolff mean it is just a case of changing a few numbers around.
But the problem is, while F1 is in an enforced break due to the cancellation of the Chinese GP, when it returns, it does so thick and fast.
With five GPs in Azerbaijan, Miami, Imola, Monaco and Barcelona in just six weeks, will Mercedes and Hamilton want to spend any time off haggling over a contract?
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We have been in this place before.
In 2021, he did not sign a deal with Mercedes until February when he was out of contract, making life fairly uncomfortable, as he took it to the wire for the new season.
So what is the hold up?
Hamilton has already stated that he wants to stay. In Saudi Arabia for the GP he said he was feeling fit and wanted to continue to drive for Mercedes in F1.
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Hamilton has been partying with friends at CoachellaCredit: Instagram
He said: “For me personally, just as long as I can continue to help the team, as long as I can continue to help drive the team forwards and really contribute, then that’s why I want to stay.
“If there’s ever going to be a point where I feel like I’m not able to do that, then it’s time for a youngster to come in to take my seat. But I’m still pretty young, in pretty decent shape.”
A cynic could suggest that by failing to negotiate a deal, when publicly saying he wanted to, Hamilton and Mercedes are at odds on the contract.
And that usually involves two numbers. The contract length and, more crucially, the amount paid.
He is already one of the best-paid drivers on the grid, earning around £40 million a year.
But he also knows his worth to Mercedes, giving them billions of dollars in advertising.
However, at 38, maybe Mercedes do not feel the need to pay him the kind of sums he did in the past, for [and this is only a suggestion] he is past his peak, plus he is not winning [at the moment].
Mercedes may still need to find a new partner for George RussellCredit: Rex
Does he have other options?
Absolutely. In F1, there is a limit on seats available, but which team would not jump at the chance to sign a seven-time world champion?Red Bull aside, who have made their feelings known, he would walk into any other on the grid, even Ferrari.
Outside of F1, he would have the pick of the bunch in terms of other racing categories, but really it is unlikely that another sport’s venture would take his interest.
Do Mercedes want to keep him?
Hamilton and Wolff’s relationship is very transparent and open.
They have achieved so much success that it is inevitable that he would want to retain Hamilton.
His experience and feedback is vital to helping the team out of their current slump and Wolff knows he can rely on his multiple world champion.
That said, they know they have a real star in George Russell, who has certainly come to the fore this season.
Russell is oozing in confidence and proving that he is not afraid to go wheel to wheel with Hamilton, as he proves his own credentials as a team leader.
For the time being, their relationship is a harmonious one, and Mercedes would look to preserve it.
If he does not sign, who will they get?
It was a good piece of business to sign up Mick Schumacher as a reserve driver.
He might not have the same levels as talent as their other two drivers, but he does have plenty of experience having driven for Haas.
Should Hamilton decide not to stay and walk away, then Mercedes will have an easy solution to pop him alongside Russell.
However, it is worth mentioning that Wolff is pally with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, and that IF he knew Hamilton was leaving, he would not be doing his job if he was not to at least ask about Verstappen.
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A more-likely option would be Lando Norris, who has a contract at McLaren until 2025.
Mercedes would certainly test every letter of that contract to see if there was half a chance of getting the Brit.
Mercedes would explore every avenue… should Hamilton not extendCredit: AFP More

GEORGE RUSSELL claims Lewis Hamilton’s decision not to retire last year “saved him” from criticism.Hamilton decided to return in 2022 – despite the controversial end to the 2021 season when he was denied a record eighth world title by former Race Director Michael Masi’s handling of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Hamilton and Russell are into their second season together as teammatesCredit: Splash
And Russell says that Hamilton remaining with the Silver Arrows helped “save” his own career from taking a tonking as Mercedes struggled for performance.
He said: “In a way, having him as a teammate saved me. If he had left Mercedes or the sport when I joined the team, I would have been blamed for the step backwards the team made.
“But I think that I’ve now proved what I’m worth and what I can do, so there’s no pressure in that regard.
“I’m there to do my job as well as possible and I think I’m in a very good position.
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“So I don’t worry about statistics or whether I’m on Lewis’ pace or whatever, because I feel like I’ve already proved that over the past year.”
Russell landed 35 points more than Hamilton last season but the seven-time world champion is believed to have allowed Mercedes to use his car to experiment with design changes.
The constructors became more competitive as the season went on with Russell landing his first ever F1 victory in Interlagos.
While Hamilton had to endure his first ever winless season, ending a run that had been going since his debut year in 2007.
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With three races gone in this campaign, Hamilton leads Russell by 30 points.
Due to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, motorsport fans are having to endure a three week break before the action restarts in Baku later this month. More

MICK SCHUMACHER has described the ’emotional’ experience of working with engineers at Mercedes who were there when his legendary dad Michael was.Having parted company with Haas at the end of the 2022 season Schumacher has since served as a reserve driver to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at Mercedes.
Schumacher joined Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2023 seasonCredit: Rex
Father Michael ended his F1 career at the teamCredit: Getty – Contributor
By joining Mercedes, Schumacher followed in the footsteps of his father, who joined the Brackley based outfit in 2010 before finally bringing an end to his illustrious career in 2012.
The 24-year-old detailed how working with engineers who had previously been colleagues with his dad made the role more fulfilling.
He said: “What I really appreciate in working with those engineers is that they are genuinely listening to you and your opinion matters, and what is special from an emotional side is that many people who are working for the team now were working here when my dad was driving.”
In a diary entry published on the Mercedes website the German explained how working as backup to the Brits has given him valuable experience.
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He wrote: “It’s been fascinating working with Lewis and George. It’s an interesting period for me as I get to look over and work with two fantastic drivers, which you don’t always get to do.
“I’ve learned a lot about what’s important in terms of approaching race weekends; I feel like I’ve already gained so much knowledge to add to my skill set. I didn’t think I would have learned and gained so much so early into my role.”
The former Haas man added that he’s gained a greater understanding of the work that goes on within the paddock on a race day.
He said: “As a driver, you usually do not get to hear what is going on between all the engineers while you are out on the track, so listening in during the sessions has been extremely interesting.
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“I was quite shocked at the season opener in Bahrain, I did not expect the sheer amount of exchange that happens.”
Schumacher, also explained how one of his primary responsibilities is to hone his skills in the simulator, should his services be required by the team at any point.
He said: “My main focus up to now has been working in the simulator. Because I have raced a car under this new set of regulations, I have a good understanding of how to drive them. 
“That has helped me in my role so far and hopefully added value for the Team. I will look to be an extra pair of eyes and resource to help with the development programme across the year.
“The simulator team have been super kind to me and great to work with. It’s impressive to drive the sim because it’s just so advanced, and I have been pushing to do more. 
“It’s not enough for me to just sit on the side-lines, I want to be helpful wherever I can. Of course, it’s not the real thing and I would love to be driving the W14.”
Schumacher will be hoping to be back on the Formula one grid for the 2024 season after a year on the sidelines.
Schumacher will be hoping to be back on the grid in 2024Credit: Rex More