In the last decade, Mercedes has dominated the F1 for most of it. However, in 2022, the Silver Arrows was nowhere near the title contention and was just a shadow of its former self.
They could only get only one win out of the entire 22 races. Yet, they didn’t fall much from their previous grace, as they were still the third-best team on the grid but were far away from race speed compared to the title-winner Red Bull.
Fortunately, Toto Wolff claims that it will only get better from here. Taking their no sidepod concept further, Mercedes promises a competitive 2023.
Charles Leclerc believes in Mercedes’s redemption
2022 was more about Ferrari and Red Bull before it soon became about Red Bull’s dominance. While Ferrari also claims to improve, their driver Charles Leclerc believes even Mercedes will be in the title contention next year.
“I do believe that Mercedes will be in the fight,” Leclerc said. “We’ve seen how much they’ve improved from the first race to the last race. I think they understood what they did wrong. This is normally the sign that it will go better. So hopefully it will be a three team fight next year.”
This assumption is coming after the pace gain in Mercedes by the end of the season. Their performance in Brazil showed that they could nail the new regulations and be back at the top.
Lewis Hamilton is shooting for another title
Hamilton has won seven titles in his 15-year-long F1 career. The Mercedes superstar eyes are back at the top in the next season and going for another title.
The biggest hiccup can be George Russel, who became one of his rare teammates to beat him in the grid positions. Thus, he is considered his biggest threat within Mercedes since Nico Rosberg.
So, if Mercedes comes in to vie for the title, it will remain to be seen how the harmonious relations between the two will be maintained. Moreover, Mercedes man management will also be tested.
Will they have to sacrifice one? That would be tough, as one is their legend and the other their future. The choice will be hard. However, Hamilton has admitted that he realizes Russell is brought in to take the baton from him, and he would be there to mentor him. But in F1, egos end up clashing always.
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