Mercedes has experienced significant crashes during the last two Grands Prix, with troubles piling up as the Formula 1 season draws to a close.
While the German team aimed to boost performance to rival Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, a particularly costly string of crashes has forced Toto Wolff and his team to slow down their development. From Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s crash in Monza to George Russell’s incidents at the last two weeks in Austin and Mexico, the mounting repair costs face the cap limits set by the FIA for a F1 season.
Read more:
The annual budget nearly reached
In Formula 1, when a driver’s car is damaged, the team covers the costs regardless of the cause. As we’ve seen before, an F1 car is incredibly expensive, and after each crash, Mercedes must pour substantial sums into repairs. Sometimes they can reuse old parts, but often, a rebuild is necessary. These expenses, subject to strict budget control, threaten the team’s development strategy. Toto Wolff recently announced that only a few tweaks will be possible for the Brazilian Grand Prix and that there will be no further major improvements this season due to the limited number of remaining Grands Prix. The are only four Grand Prix and two Sprint races left.
Challenges of the Formula 1 budget cap
The FlA’s budget cap of $135 million, imposed to encourage fairer competition, has become a real constraint. As a reminder, this budget cap was established to allow teams with more modest means, like Haas F1 Team, to compete with industrial giants such as Mercedes or Ferrari, who can rely on financial backing from their respective parent companies. Wolff emphasized that the severity of the accidents and the need to replace chassis-which can cost up to $750,000-as well as engines and other components, slows the team’s potential for development. The damage from Austin and Mexico may further force Mercedes to prioritize safety over performance, with an even more frugal approach to their stock of parts.
Drivers need to stay low-key
Mercedes’ decision has not impacted the team’s commitment to letting Lewis Hamilton and George Russell fight on the track, as they did during the Mexican Grand Prix. Wolff remains confident in his drivers’ ability to handle critical situations and show mutual respect while they are fighting on the track. However, this limitation on upgrades could impact their performance. For the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, Mercedes will need to test the cars with different configurations, which may reveal potential aerodynamic imbalances. Hopefully, these won’t lead to further loss of control for Russell or Hamilton.
Lawson’s middle finger at the Mexico GP will give Red Bull a hard time
This article explores the impact of budget restrictions on Mercedes’ ambitions, the cost of repairs on their development budget, and the strategic decisions the team must make for the rest of the season. With only four Grands Prix left and a constructors’ championship battle that now seems out of reach, it appears evident that Mercedes is more focused on damage control than chasing peak performance.
Featured image: Mercedes AMG F1 Team press release