Mercedes

Mercedes in 2024

Mercedes are looking to return to winning ways in 2024 after an underwhelming campaign. 2023 was the first season in 11 years where Mercedes failed to win a race.

There were few highs for Mercedes, even though they did secure second in the 2023 F1 constructors’ championship ahead of Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton’s pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix was probably the highlight, while Singapore was a missed opportunity for George Russell.

Nevertheless, Mercedes are optimistic that an entirely new car concept for 2024 will change their fortunes around. The team have retained Hamilton and Russell, ensuring Mercedes have arguably the strongest line-up on the grid.

Mercedes' F1 history

Mercedes’ F1 history stretches back to 1954, winning the championship with Juan Manuel Fangio. The success continued into 1955 with Fangio adding another title to his trophy cabinet.

Despite their two title triumphs, Mercedes withdrew from motorsport following the 1955 Le Mans disaster where 83 spectators died. Mercedes marked their return in 1994 as an engine supplier, teaming up with British engineering company Ilmor.

After a brief stint supplying Sauber, Mercedes joined forces with McLaren, embarking on a very successful 20-year partnership. Mercedes then supplied engines to Brawn GP in 2009, assisting them to a fairytale championship win.

The decision to supply Brawn GP resulted in Mercedes’ ultimate return as a works team. Brawn GP was rebranded as Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team with Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg as their drivers.

Mercedes’ first three years back in F1 were unsuccessful, taking one victory at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix. Smartly, Mercedes had turned their attention to the 2014 engine regulations, and the catalyst of change started.

Lewis Hamilton jumped ship from McLaren to join Mercedes in 2013, with the team taking three victories. Mercedes’ gamble to focus on the 2014 regulations proved to be crucial as they dominated the first year of the new rules.

Mercedes’ engine advantage meant they were untouchable in 2015 and 2016. Ferrari posed renewed threats in 2017 and 2018, but it wasn’t enough as Mercedes' unbeaten run in both championships continued.

During this period up until 2018, Hamilton had won four titles, while Rosberg claimed one (in 2016) but retired, giving Williams driver Valtteri Bottas an opportunity. 2019 and 2020 was more of the same as Mercedes were no longer reliant on an over-powered engine, rather engineering genius with their chassis.

The 2020 W11 is widely-regarded as the fastest F1 car of all-time with its unprecedented levels of downforce. Mercedes were finally beaten - in the drivers’ championship at least - in 2021, with Max Verstappen taking Hamilton down in a dramatic finale.

The ‘ground effect’ era at the start of 2022 seems to have halted Mercedes dominance with Russell taking the team’s only win so far at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix two years ago.