Mercedes F1

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The Mercedes F1 team have been competing in Formula One since 1954, seeing 8 Constructor’s Titles and 9 Driver’s Championships.

There consistency over the last 10 years has put Merceds up the ranks as one of the most successful teams in Formula One history.

mercedes F1 car

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team is nicknamed the “Silver Arrows”.The Mercedes F1 team debuted in 1954 and that same year made their mark in Formula One winning their first race at the French Grand Prix and winning the 1954 Drivers’ Championship with Juan Manual Fangio. Argentinian driver, Fangio won the Drivers’ Championship again the following year for Mercedes. Mercedes’ first two seasons in Formula One had undeniable success, however it was short lived with the team withdrawing from motor racing in 1956 after the Le Mans disaster in 1955 which took the lives of over 80 spectators and killed French driver, Pierre Levegh.

It was nearly 40 years before Mercedes made their return to Formula One as an engine manufacturer. Mercedes were in association with Ilmor, who developed the engines. After a successful few years, Ilmore was rebranded as Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in 2005. It wasn’t until 2010 that the team started competing again when they bought the Brand GP team and rebranded it as Mercedes. 2014 marked a turning point in Formula One for the Mercedes F1 team. With the introduction of the Hybrid power units, Mercedes Formula One dominance began.

Mercedes F1 Drivers 2022

George Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas in 2022 to join the Mercedes F1 team alongside Lewis Hamilton to make up Mercedes F1 team for 2022.

Lewis Hamilton

mercedes f1
Lewis Hamilton’s race number is 44.

Lewis Hamilton’s love for motor racing began at eight years of age when he began karting. In 1997, Hamilton’s talent was recognised and he was enrolled in the McLarens Young Driver Programme. Four years later, he moved into the British Formula Renault and went into racing in Formula 3 Euro Series. Lewis Hamilton won the junior championship title in his second year and progressed to the GP2 Series with ART Grand Prix. The rookie performed exceptionally and was promoted to Formula One.

In 2007, Hamilton made his Formula One debut with McLaren at 22 years old. Lewis Hamilton set many records throughout his debut season, most races, pole positions and points. After a hugely successful first season with McLaren, Hamilton finished what he had started in his second season with the team by winning his very first Drivers’ Championship title. Hamilton showed his determination to win by securing the title on the last lap of the final race of the season. Lewis Hamilton became the first and as of today is the only black driver to have won a Drivers’ Championship title.

After six seasons with McLaren, Hamilton announced that he would join Mercedes F1 team for the 2013 season. Moving to Mercedes was a big risk considering the successful history that McLaren had compared to Mercedes. However, it was a risk that immensely paid off. Hamilton proved his worth in his debut season with the Mercedes F1 team, securing his first podium with the team on his second race and getting his maiden win at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The British driver finished in fourth place in the Drivers’ standings.

Lewis Hamilton won the Mercedes F1 works team their first Drivers’ Championship title since the 1950’s and alongside teammate Nico Rosberg the pair secured the first of many Constructors’ titles for the Mercedes F1 team. Hamilton ended the season with 11 victories and 16 podiums and the following year he reached similar achievements with 10 victories and 17 podiums which crowned him Driver’ Champion for the second consecutive year. The following year Lewis set records for the 2016 season with most race wins, winning 10 races and most pole positions, gaining pole position 12 times throughout the season. However these records weren’t enough to secure the title, with teammate Rosberg being crowned Drivers’ Championship that season.

In 2017, Lewis took the World Title with two races left to go in the season and ended the year setting records once again with most pole positions with 11 and most race wins with ten victories. The following year, Hamilton’s battle with Ferrari’s Vettel continued but this time much closer. However, Lewis Hamilton came out on top and gained his fifth Drivers’ Championship title and ended the season with 11 wins and 17 podiums. In 2019, Hamilton equalled his previous seasons records.

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton showed his adaptability during unprecedented time with the distruvance of the COVID-19 pandemic to the world and the Formula One calendar. Lewis Hamilton proved his worth as one of the greatest and most successful drivers in the history of Formula One by surpassing F1 legend Michael Schumacher’s record of F1 race wins and equalled his record of world titles when he won his seventh Driver’s Championship at the Turkish Grand Prix.

After a season long battle, Hamilton failed to secure the Drivers’ Championship after a season-long battle with Red Bull’s Verstappen, however, he helped Mercedes win their record breaking eight consecutive Constructors’ title. Although Hamilton didn’t win the title he did make Formula One history once again. In 2020 Hamilton became the first driver to reach 100 wins and 100 pole positions in the history of Formula One.

2022 hasn’t been the easiest season for the Mercedes F1 team or Hamilton. To date, Hamilton has yet to win a race with Mercedes for the 2022 season making it his worst season performance with Mercedes so far. With only a few more races to go in the 2022 season, Hamilton is sixth place in the standings, behind teammate George Russell and Mercedes F1 team are third in the Constructors’ standings behind Red Bull and Ferrari.

George Russell

Like many other Formula One drivers, Russell also began his career in motorsport with karting. George Russell won both national and international championships during his karting career, including the British Open Championship in 2009 and the CIK-FIA European Championship in 2012. Russell went on to compete in the Formula Renault 2.9 Alps series and the BRDC Formula 4 Championship. He also won the McLaren Autosport Award and after one year in Formula 4 he went into the FIA Formula 3 European Championship for two seasons.

In 2017, Geogre Russel became a member of the Mercedes F1 team’s junior programme and he began testing with Mercedes and driving in two FP1 sessions for Force India. In 2018, George Russell competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and he was crowned the winner that same season. In 2019, George’s talents were recognised and he was named as Williams next driver for 2019, finally making his move to Formula One.George drove for Williams for three seasons and during his time he put in many impressive performances. During his time with Williams, Russell stood in for Hamilton at Mercedes in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.

It was at this race that he earned his first F1 points and scored the fastest lap. In his last season with Williams, Russell raced an impressive lap at the Belgian Grand Prix and scored his first F1 podium. George Russell’s determination was noticed by Mercedes AMG Petronas and he was announced as Valtteri Bottas’ replacement for the 2022 season. George Russell has had a very successful year in his debut season with Mercedes. He is currently fourth in the Drivers’ standings with 203 points and one podium finish.

Mercedes Team Principal 2022

formula one mercedes
Toto Wolff, INEOS and Daimler AG have equal shares in Mercedes F1 Team with 33% each.

Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff is Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team. The Austrian has always had a love for motorsport, competing in racing at the age of 17 and having victory at the 1994 Nürburgring 24 Hours. Toto’s racing career was short lived and three years later he turned his focus to the business and investment world. In 2002, Toto Wolff became co-owner of  a racing driver management company alongside two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen. Toto also went back into racing taking part in the FIA GT World Championship and the 24 Hours of Bahrain.

In 2009, Toto Wolff invested in the Williams F1 Team and by 2012 he was the Executive Director. Less than a year later, Toto was appointed Managing Partner of the Mercedes F1 Team and he acquired a 30% stake in the team. Toto Wolff became the Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, putting him in charge of Formula 1 and Formula E for the company. As of 2020, Toto has a one-third stake in the team, alongside INEOS and Daimler AG. Under Toto Wolff’s leadership, the Mercedes F1 Team has won eight consecutive Constructors’ Titles and seven consecutive Drivers’ Championship Titles.

Past Mercedes F1 Drivers

Stirling Moss

Stirling Moss was a British racing driver who is regarded as the greatest driver to have never won the World Championship. During his Formula One career, Moss had sixteen victories, pole positions and 19 fastest laps in 66 Grand Prixs. In 1955, Moss won the British Grand Prix in Aintree, his home race for Mercedes, beating teammate Fangio. Stirlings Mosses career was growing in lengths, however an accident in 1962 put an end to his thriving career. Although he recovered from his accident, Moss’ pace wasn’t the same and therefore he decided to retire from the sport he loved. To this day, Stirling Moss is still regarded highly in the motorsport world.

Nico Rosberg

Expectations were high for Nico Rosberg when he joined Formula 1 as the son of Finnish F1 World Champion Keke Rosberg. Nico began his career in motorsport at just the age of six and by 16 he was racing in International Formula Super A. At just the age of 17, Nico Rosberg’s talents were recognised and he was awarded with a F1 test with the Williams F1 Team. After making a name for himself in the Formula 3 Euro Series and GP2 Series, Williams offered Nico a full-time drive in F1.

In 2006, Nico Rosberg made his F1 debut for Williams and proved his worth by achieving the fastest last of his debut Grand Prix, making him the youngest driver to achieve this. In 2010, Nico signed for the Mercedes F1 Team and after only three races with the Silver Arrows, he finished on the podium. He would go on to repeat this two more times in his debut season for the Brackley team. In 2012, Nico Rosberg secured his first F1 pole position and his first win at the Chinese Grand Prix.

In 2014, Rosberg had another very successful season with Mercedes winning the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix for the second year in a row and finishing the year with five race wins, 15 podium finishes and five fastest race laps. In 2016, Nico Rosberg’s determination finally paid off and he was crowned the World Drivers’ Champion for the first time in his F1 career. Just days later, Nico Rosberg made the shock announcement that he would be retiring from Formula One.

Valtteri Bottas

In 2017, Mercedes replaced World Champion Finnish driver, Rosberg with Finnish driver, Valtteri Bottas. In his youth, Bottas won two Championships in Formula Renault 2.0, taking both the NEC and European title. Valtteri Bottas went on to win the Formula 3 Masters in Zandvoort two years in a row, a feat that has yet to be beaten. Similar to Rosberg, Williams also gave Bottas his first test drive and he was also given the role in 2011. In 2013, he made his F1 debut with Williams at the Australian Grand Prix and earned his first F1 points at the United States Grand Prix.

In 2014, Bottas showed his skill by making six podiums and finishing in fourth position,one place behind Lewis Hamilton. He also helped to secure third place for Williams in the Constructors. In his first year with Mercedes, Bottas claimed his first pole position and race win, finishing the season with four pole positions, three race wins and placing third in the drivers’ standings. Valtteri showed his team fighting spirit by helping Mercedes achieve another Constructors Title in 2018 and he finished the season with seven fastest laps and eight podiums.

2019 was Valterris most successful season in F1 with him ending the season in P2 and winning four races, five pole positions and 15 podiums. Bottas repeated this success in 2020 again finishing in P2. In 2021, Bottas helped Mercedes hold onto the Constructors title after they lost the Drivers’ Championship, however the Finnish driver was replaced the following season by Russell after five years with the Siler Arrows.

Mercedes F1 Car 2022

Mercedes W13 was released at the beginning of the 2022 season with notable differences. The more recently used black colour of Mercedes was switched for the silver, representing their nickname as the “Silver Arrows”. New regulations meant big changes to the F1 cars for this season and they promised closer racing between drivers.

However, the Mercedes W13 hasn’t seemed to have completely lived up to the standards that were expected, with the Mercedes W13 unable to keep pace with Red Bull’s RB18 and Ferrari’s F1-75. Although we won’t know until the end of the season what the W13 was able to do in the 2022 season overall, at the moment it is potential the worst car Mercedes have had in over 8 years.

Mercedes F1 Achievements

Most Consecutive Constructors Titles

The Mercedes F1 team has the most consecutive Constructor’s Titles in the history of Formula One. Between 2014 and 2021, Mercedes have won the Constructor’s Title eight years in a row, dominating Formula 1 for nearly 10 years.

Most Wins in a Season

The Mercedes F1 team has the most wins in any season of Formula One with a record breaking 19 wins in 2016 achieved by their drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.They also have the second most wins with 16 wins out of 19 in 2014 and 2015.

Most one-two Finishes in a Season

In 2015, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton got 12 one-two finishes. A record that has yet to be broken.

Most Championship Points in a Season

Mercedes hold the record for most championship points in a season with 765 points in the 2016 season.

Most Podiums in a Season

Mercedes holds first, second, third and fourth place for the most podiums in a season. The most podiums in a season for Mercedes was 33 in 2016.

Mercedes F1 Domination

Since Mercedes comeback to Formula One they have dominated the race tracks. Let’s take a look at the team’s successes since their re-emergence to F1.

2010-2011

The Mercedes F1 team placed fourth in the constructors’ championship in their first two season back in Formula One with drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg behind the wheel.

2012

The Mercedes F1 works team get their very first win at the Shanghai Grand Prix with Rosberg behind the wheel of the innovative F1 W03. This was also driver Nico Rosberg’s first win of his Formula One career. Mercedes place fifth in the constructors championship and driver Michael Schumacher competes in his last ever F1 race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

2013

After a successful season which included three wins, eight pole positions and nince podium finishes, the Mercedes F1 team placed second in the Constructors Championship. This was Mercedes’ best result since they began in 2010. 2013 welcomed British driver Lewis Hamilton who had his first win with Mercedes that same year at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

2014

2014 saw the start of Mercedes AMG Petronas’ dominance in Formula One. After a very successful season which saw a record breaking 16 out of 19 races won by Mercedes and 11 one-two finishes, Mercedes took home their maiden Constructors’ Title with three races left in the season. Lewis Hamilton was crowned the Drivers’ Championship for the second time in his career and first time with Mercedes. This was Mercedes first Drivers’ Championship since Fangio during the mid 1950’s.

2015

Mercedes competed against their 2014 performance in the 2015 season, winning their second successive championship double and once again winning 16 out of  19 races. 2015 sees Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton once again show off their unbelievable driving and teamwork with a record breaking 12 one-two finishes in the season. Lewis Hamilton wins his third Drivers’ Championship and second for Mercedes AMG Petronas.

2016

Mercedes AMG Petronas prove that their success is not short lived and show just how much of a serious contender they are by breaking their own record yet again winning 19 out of the 21 races in the 2016 season. This record still stands and has yet to be broken. Mercedes claimed their third Constructors’ crown in a row and it was Nico Rosberg who took the Drivers’ Title. Soon after he announced his retirement from Formula One.

2017

With Nico Rosberg retired, Mercedes are challenged with finding a suitable replacement. Lewis Hamilton becomes Mercedes AMG Petronas number one driver and Finnish driver, Valtteri Bottas replaces Nico Rosberg. With close competition from Ferrari, Mercedes emerged victorious with their fourth consecutive Constructors Title and Drivers’ Title from Hamilton. Bottas’ proved his  with three wins in his debut season for the team.

2018

The spotlight is on Lewis Hamilton throughout the 2018 season, who wins 11 races securing a fifth consecutive Championship double for Mercedes. Valtteri Bottas failed to win a race in his second season driving for Mercedes with attention focused on teammate Hamilton. However, he did earn valuable points for the team. The Drivers’ title was challenged by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel throughout the season.

2019

Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton worked well as a team during the 2019 season with five one-two wins. During the season, Hamilton got his 100th podium with Mercedes AMG Petronas and Mercedes 100th race win at the Mexican Grand Prix. Mercedes got their sixth Constructors Championship title and Hamiltons secured his sixth Drivers Title.

2020

Even with the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in only 17 Grand Prix for the 2020 season, Mercedes were victorious once again. The Mercedes AMG Petronas team won 13 races and ended the season with 573 points. Lewis Hamilton’s performance crowned him Drivers’ Champion for the seventh time in his career, tying him with Schumacher’s record of seven Drivers’ Championship title. With 11 wins from Hamilton and two from Bottas, Mercedes hold on their Constructors title for the seventh consecutive year.

2021

For the fifth season in a row, drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are teammates for Mercedes. The 2021 season was filled with tension and controversy between rivals Mercedes and Red Bull. Boiling point hit at the final race of the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when both Mercedes’ Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were tied on points going into the final race. Hamilton failed to fight off Verstappen in the controversial final last lap and came second in the Drivers’ Championship and teammate Bottas in third place. The combined effort from Mercedes drivers secured the team’s record breaking eight consecutive Constructors title.

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