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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that the battle for the 2018 constructors championship was the toughest its faced in F1. The Silver Arrows wrppaed up its fifth consecutive championship last weekend in brazil, two weeks after Lewis Hamilton secured the drivers' title in Mexico.
The German manufacturer eased to championship glory from 2014 to 2016, as it was unchallenged by its rivals. It faced its first real battle last year, however, it won after Ferrari's second half of the season saw it drop away and out of contention.
A similar situation hit the Italian squad this year, however it was apparent that its car was stronger than it was in 2017. Wolff expressed his delight of winning another championship but says that it was absolutely the toughest one yet.
"Yes, it was the most difficult, and that’s why the relief now is the most I’ve ever felt,” he said. "We had such a horrible race today, with the perfect end result with Lewis winning and us winning the constructors’ championship. But I can tell you mid-race, we had the information power unit failure imminent on Lewis’ car, and the guys in the background and the HPP guys fixed it.
“God knows how you can fix hardware that is just about to break and make the car finish. That race was just a nightmare until the chequered flag came down. And everything broke loose.”
Mercedes, who re-entered the sport in 2010, now sits fifth on the all-time title win list, behind Ferrari, Williams, McLaren and Lotus. Wolff added that Mercedes never could have dreamed of obtaining the success it has had over the last few years.
"Being able to win a fifth consecutive championship is something we wouldn’t have dreamt of six years ago. In our wildest dreams that wouldn’t have come to my mind,” Wolff said. “Equalling a Ferrari record that seemed unachievable is something I feel so grateful and fortunate to be in this team.
“I can remember before I joined Formula 1 those Ferrari years and Jean at the helm and Michael and many others that contributed to the team’s success. That was something that I really looked up to and admired, and us having achieved that, you just have to say a thousand times thank you to all the team members. Generally we need to feel grateful to be in that fortunate position."
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (4)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It was, and it could've been harder had Ferrari done their strategy right from the start, and had Vettel not bollocksed up in places like Hockenheim, and had Wolff not used team orders on another team or done what he actually DID(!) to Bottas.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
well @calle, can you think of any team that has won consecutive titles that didn't apply similar techniques? I agree it's unsavoury, but I think some people are either too young, or too selective to realize that this is just what serial championship teams have always done.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I can name several that didnt use team orders for drivers that isnt in their team, and McHonda with Senna and Prost, snd Merc with Ros and Hammy, didnt. It being a viable strategy doesnt make it right. I could use bamboo skewers instead of needles, but I dont, because me and me donours would have splinters everywhere
F1todayfan101
Posts: 120
One must fight with all the tools they have brought and at the end of the day, winning is winning. Thats what pays the bills and the staff bonus. Im pretty sure that most MF1 employees couldnt care less about who won the drivers championhip and who had to let who through to make it happen. The bonus is for the constructors championship.....
And lets be honest, Bottas has been a car length behind Lewis at every turn this year. He is a number two driver and he hasn't shown any reason for that not to be the case. Sure in a different team he might be able to be a number 1, but hes in the best car and he cant touch Lewis on most Sundays (not all, ok....).