Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff expects the difficult 2022 season the team is enduring to pay off for years to come.
The Mercedes F1 team won all constructors’ championships from 2014 to 2021, missing just one drivers’ title during that time.
However, Mercedes has taken a step back with its new generation F1 car for 2022 and has spent much of the first half of the season getting to know its car.
Still, the Mercedes F1 team, which has won many podiums, is still waiting for its first victory in 2022. Toto Wolff described the season so far as a ‘roller coaster’.
“We didn’t have a very good start to the season. I can’t say anything else,” said Wolff.
“It’s frustrating to win the championship in December and not be able to compete with the top players for the next four months.”
“Since then we’ve been on a roller coaster and we’ve been on the podium in almost every race. We were strong on Sunday, but we were never at that level in qualifying. The gap was too big.”
“It’s important now to try to understand why it was and hopefully in the second half of the season we can pick up the qualifying pace and race for the win.”
Mercedes F1 is slowly but steadily regaining form and has become more competitive in the last few races.
But Toto Wolff insists the Mercedes F1 team’s aim is not to improve in the short term, but to improve itself over several years.
“Considering that our expectation was to fight for the championship, there are not many things that can be said to have really worked out,” said Wolff.
“But we have to be positive. That’s what we’ve said in the past: ‘The day we lose is the day we learn the most.'”
“Our car was really difficult. Sometimes it didn’t improve. It looked like it didn’t really improve. I think what we’ve learned will help us over the years.”
“But our period is neither one week nor one year. We want to develop the organization continuously for two, five, ten years.”
“To that end, this year’s learning and toughness may be beneficial.”
