The New Silver Arrow – “I still bet on Mercedes”

At the presentation of the new F1 Silver Arrow (Mercedes-AMG F1 W10 EQ Power +) at Silverstone, Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff (45) used a gentler tone than before.

Only recently had he been harshly criticizing the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) for introducing new aerodynamic rules for 2019 implying there were just there to slow down his team.

The background: Wings and other aerodynamic parts have been trimmed so that each team had to design a new car with an entirely new concept without relying on data collected from the previous (successful) model.

Wolff’s accusations caused disbelief among experts. Ross Brawn, Michael Schumacher’s former race engineer at Ferrari and current sports director at Liberty Media the owner of F1, makes it clear: “The new rules are solely designed to make overtaking easier.”

Mercedes F1 Superiority

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko (75) adds derisively: “He seems to have forgotten that there have been major changes to the chassis regulations before as in 2017. That time Mercedes won their title mainly because of the engine regulations, and that hasn’ changed.”

In fact, the numbers prove Wollf’s fellow countryman from Graz right. Out of 100 races since the introduction of hybrid engines in 2014, 74 of them were won by Mercedes. In other words, three out of four. 51 races were won by Lewis Hamilton alone.

To get the whole picture: Five constructors’ titles. Since 2014 every Silver Arrow has been a championship winner. And since then every Drivers’ Champ had been sitting in a Silver Arrow. Four times Lewis Hamilton, once Nico Rosberg.

The New Mercedes F1 Silver Arrow 2019

Ex-Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone (88) even believes: “In the history of Formula 1, no team has been more dominant. We should have never introduced these engines. Because they launched the rise of Mercedes.”

Perhaps that is why Wolff is now using a more conciliatory tone, even exaggerating when it comes to equal opportunities to win this year’s championship: “The 2019 season is a completely new challenge for us. We start from scratch and we have to prove ourselves again.

“There is absolutely no reason to automatically assume that we will again. In fact, with the rule changes for the new season, each team has a shot at the title and we see everyone as a potential competitor. “

Bernie Ecclestone can only laugh about these comments: “Equal opportunities? Forget it. I still bet on Mercedes. Money always decides a Championchip and Mercedes has by far the most of it.”