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Toto Wolff Calls McLaren’s F1 Triumph a ‘Benchmark’ for Mercedes to Chase

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
December 12, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Toto Wolff Calls McLaren’s F1 Triumph a ‘Benchmark’ for Mercedes to Chase

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 6, 2024 McLaren's reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

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Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has hailed McLaren’s stunning 2024 Constructors’ Championship victory as a milestone for Formula 1 and a wake-up call for the Silver Arrows. Despite the Woking-based outfit being a customer team, McLaren’s triumph over its engine supplier has set a new standard for performance, execution, and resilience.


“McLaren Breaks a 26-Year Drought”

McLaren’s victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix capped a sensational season, marking the first time since 1998 that the team clinched the Constructors’ Championship. Lando Norris’s victory at Yas Marina sealed the title, making McLaren the first customer team since Brawn GP in 2009 to achieve this feat.

The title also snapped a 14-year run of dominance by Mercedes and Red Bull, adding a fresh narrative to the sport’s competitive landscape.

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“Wolff: A Success for Mercedes Motorsport”

While McLaren’s victory came at the expense of Mercedes’ works team, Wolff chose to view the result positively.

“If we can’t win as a works team, I’d much rather be beaten by a customer team,” Wolff remarked. “This is a success for Mercedes motorsport. It gives us the primary objective to win. It shows us where the benchmark is.”

Wolff emphasized that McLaren’s success was not due to any engine superiority, as both teams operated on equal footing.

“There’s no discussion about the performance level or driveability of the engine. World champions are our customers, and if they execute better with better drivers, that’s completely fine.”


“The Journey from Backmarkers to Champions”

McLaren’s turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. From being the slowest car on the grid at the start of 2023, the team climbed to the pinnacle of Formula 1 in just two seasons. Wolff credited McLaren’s resurgence to “great engineering, right leadership, and good drivers.”

“Considering where they came from a year and a half ago—not even making it out of Q1—to now making a race-winning car and taking the Constructors’ title, that’s incredible,” Wolff said.


“Lessons for Mercedes”

McLaren’s achievement is a stark reminder of what’s possible under the current regulations. The cost cap and Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR) have leveled the playing field, giving lower-ranked teams a chance to close the gap.

Wolff acknowledged these factors but stressed that McLaren’s success boiled down to execution.

“They won because of good engineering, simple as it is. The ATR benefits, where they had more testing time, are helpful but not decisive. Their leadership, engineering, and drivers are what made the difference.”


“What’s Next for Mercedes?”

After winning three races mid-season, Mercedes faltered in the latter half of 2024, finishing fourth in the Constructors’ standings—198 points behind McLaren. With the W15 showing flashes of promise, Wolff sees McLaren as the new yardstick.

“We are fourth in the championship now, which gives us 20% more ATR than McLaren. That is an opportunity we must use. But we need to address our engineering and execution to match the level McLaren has shown.”


“A New Competitive Era in Formula 1”

McLaren’s victory signals a new chapter in Formula 1, where customer teams can compete—and win—on equal terms with works teams. For Mercedes, it’s both a challenge and an inspiration as the team aims to reclaim its dominance in the seasons ahead.

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