Toto Wolff has rejected suggestions that Mercedes were ‘losers’ during the Formula 1 ground effect era from 2022 to 2025. The Mercedes team principal highlighted the team’s resilience and performance during a period that preceded their dominant 2026 season. Mercedes secured both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in the current 2026 campaign.
The 2026 season has seen Mercedes return to championship-winning form. Kimi Antonelli, at 20 years old, became the youngest F1 World Champion in history. He clinched the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a third-place finish.
Antonelli secured nine Grand Prix victories throughout the 2026 season. This included a notable run of five consecutive wins from the Chinese Grand Prix to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Mercedes also claimed their ninth Constructors’ Championship at the São Paulo Grand Prix. This marked their first Drivers’ and Constructors’ double since 2020.
The team’s resurgence coincides with significant regulatory changes introduced for the 2026 season. These changes represent a major overhaul in Formula 1.
The new regulations mandate lighter and smaller cars, with a minimum weight reduced to 770kg. Wheelbase and width have also been decreased.
Active aerodynamics are a key feature, replacing the previous Drag Reduction System (DRS). Cars now feature moveable front and rear wings.
These active aero elements allow drivers to switch between a low-drag ‘X mode’ for straights and a high-downforce ‘Z mode’ for corners. An ‘Overtake Mode’ provides an additional electrical power boost.
The hybrid power unit configuration has also been revised. It now features a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power. The MGU-H component has been removed, and MGU-K power increased.
During the 2022-2025 ground effect era, Mercedes experienced a challenging period. The team finished third in the Constructors’ Championship in 2022 with 515 points.
They improved to second in 2023 with 409 points, before dropping to fourth in 2024 with 468 points. Mercedes then finished second again in 2025 with 469 points.
Across these four seasons, Mercedes secured six race victories and 45 podium finishes. This represented a reduction from their previous era of dominance.
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, departed Mercedes after the 2024 season. He subsequently joined Ferrari for the 2025 and 2026 campaigns.
Kimi Antonelli’s promotion to Formula 1 in 2025 was met with scrutiny. His rookie season saw him fail to score points in 10 races.
Wolff defended the decision to bring Antonelli directly into the team. He described it as a ‘calculated risk’ that ultimately proved successful.
‘When you’re in these difficult moments, like we all are sometimes in our lives, it’s not that easy to keep going,’ Wolff stated. ‘Looking back, I think those last four years were very difficult. Between getting it wrong and then understanding why it was wrong, and then realising, ‘No, we didn’t understand’, and that was a big back and forth.’
Wolff emphasised that despite the difficulties, the team was not ‘complete losers.’ He cited their consistent top-four finishes in the Constructors’ standings and multiple race wins.
The team’s resilience during the lean years is a significant factor in their current success. George Russell is currently contending for second place in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
