Mercedes has been unable to compete for the F1 world championship since 2021. The team has faced difficulties since the introduction of the ground effect era in 2022 and has not been able to overcome the issues with its various cars. Additionally, the team suffered a major blow with the loss of its chief advisor and 2019 world champion, who was widely recognized for his role in the success of the Silver Arrows during the hybrid turbo era.
Mercedes entered the F1 grid in 2010 under the leadership of its initial leader. However, the team underwent significant changes with the arrival of two influential figures in 2013 and . The latter played a crucial role in hiring a key member from another team. Unfortunately, with the Austrian’s passing in 2019, the team has struggled to recover from his absence. The former F1 driver took the opportunity to shed light on the difficult situation at the German manufacturer.
Danner firmly believes that the team is missing Lauda’s presence and leadership. He emphasizes that Wolff, the team principal, is responsible for the team’s performance. According to Danner, Wolff lost his way after a tough season in 2021 and needs a strong leader to guide him. Therefore, Mercedes may continue to face challenges until finding its way back to being a championship-caliber team.
The paddock returned to normalcy when a driver won the Japanese GP. After the dominant victory, Wolff declared that the 2024 season was already secured by the reigning champions. However, disagrees and criticized the Austrian. The British driver and Wolff have had their share of verbal disagreements over the years.
The 50-year-old driver believes it is premature to discount the remaining races of the year. He emphasizes that teams can develop and challenge for the title throughout the season. Despite this, Horner claims to have learned not to be fooled by Wolff’s words and is aware of his tactics.
Despite the mind games, he currently leads comfortably ahead of the other teams in the race for the 2024 championship. However, rival teams are eager to secure the remaining positions on the podium, something Mercedes currently cannot challenge. Ferrari is currently the second best team, behind the Milton Keynes-based team.
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