In 2021, Mercedes lost the drivers’ championship for the first time in eight years as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton engaged in a thrilling battle in one of the most dramatic seasons in F1’s history.
Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, believes that the 2021 Formula 1 regulations were designed to disadvantage his team, contributing to their loss in the drivers’ championship.
Mercedes faced tough competition from Red Bull and Max Verstappen in their quest for the 2021 Formula 1 world title, despite their previous success with Lewis Hamilton.
The regulations for the 2021 Formula 1 season included changes to the floor limits to reduce downforce on the cars.
Hamilton controversially lost the drivers’ title to Verstappen in the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after changes in regulations appeared to disadvantage low-rake cars.
“We lost the 2021 drivers’ championship for many reasons. One was the final race. But we also lost it because those regulations were set in place in order reduce the advantage we had,” explained Wolff.
“2020 had been a super dominant year for us. I think it was the best car we ever had. Then, towards the end of the season, they changed the regulations by cutting the floor and that was to stop us.
“We saw the results in 2021, we were not as competitive as Red Bull was but at Silverstone we unlocked more potential of the car and got ourselves back into the championship. These regulations were targeted to reset the pecking order.”
Red Bull has been dominant in Formula 1, winning 15 consecutive races since Mercedes’ last victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s impressive performance this season includes setting new records for most wins and podiums. He currently holds the record for the most consecutive victories for a driver and aims to extend his streak of 10 wins at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes enjoyed periods of dominance in Formula 1, particularly between 2014 and 2016, as well as in 2020.
Mercedes must catch up, says Wolff, instead of changing the rules to hinder a dominant team.
“As a team principal, I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon that others have done in the past of saying ‘we need to change the regulations because we can’t continue with the dominance of a team’,” he said.
“If a team dominates in the way Max has done with Red Bull then it’s fair dues. This is a meritocracy. As long as you comply with the regulations, technical sporting and financial, you just need to say ‘well done’. It’s up to us to catch up and if that takes a long time, then it takes a long time.
“I remember people crying foul when it was us. Entertainment follows sport and not the other way around. We can’t be WWE, with scripted content. We don’t want to be scripted content.”
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