Mercedes entered the world of F1 racing in 1954 with immediate success. Juan Manuel Fangio won back-to-back championships. Unfortunately, their initial success was met soon thereafter with what is widely considered the greatest tragedy in motorsport history.
We’re referring, of course, to the 1955 Le Mans disaster. During the 24-hour Le Mans race, a Mercedes vehicle was involved in a high-speed crash that sent the car over the barrier. Driver Pierre Levegh was killed on impact. Flying debris wound up taking 83 spectator lives in the crowded grandstand area.
The disaster was so severe that Mercedes-Benz completely withdrew from racing for 34 years. They didn’t emerge again until almost the 21st century. In 2010, they began a more robust launch of their F1 presence. They experienced significant success in the ensuing decade. Mercedes-Benz is now a major force in the world of motorsports.
But where do they currently stand?
The Golden Era of Mercedes Racing
Mercedes hit its stride in 2014 when a turbo-hybrid-related breakthrough advantaged Mercedes’ approach to engineering. The new regulations required teams to switch from naturally aspirated V8 engines to smaller, more complex V6 turbo-hybrid power units. These combined traditional combustion engines with electric motors and energy recovery systems.
Mercedes had invested heavily in this technology ahead of the rule changes. This gave them a massive head start over competitors who struggled to master the intricate balance. Their superior understanding of these hybrid systems allowed Mercedes to extract significantly more performance while maintaining reliability. This created a technological advantage that would dominate the sport for years.
From there, the statistics tell an incredible story of dominance. During that time, they won 8 consecutive Constructors’ Championships. They won 51 of the 59 total races that they entered. This included a preposterous 19 of 21 races in 2016.
Also during this time, the famous Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry developed. Fans often refer to this as the “Silver War.” It was drama amongst teammates that added a compelling side story to Mercedes’ dominant performance. During these peak years, there was a very obvious mechanical superiority. This was enhancing the Mercedes brand position in the world of racing.
The Decline
More recently, Mercedes’ position in the world of F1 has been on the decline. This was most notable following a 2022 regulation change.
The new rules introduced ground-effect aerodynamics that fundamentally changed how cars generated downforce. This required teams to redesign their approach to airflow management under the car. Mercedes’ response was the infamous W13 car. It featured radical “zero-sidepods” that stripped away traditional bodywork in an attempt to maximize airflow.
The design proved to be a spectacular failure that left the car slow and difficult to drive. The team had completely misunderstood the new regulations.
After being so dominant for the 2010s, they concluded 2022 with 0 wins. This marked the first time that Hamilton himself had gone an entire year without a victory. His best finish was 6th in the championship standings. Mercedes gradually improved its position in 2023. They didn’t accumulate any victories, but at least finished second in the Constructors’ Championship.
In 2024 February, Hamilton left for Ferrari. This begins the current era of Mercedes racing. George Russell has now paired with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, replacing Hamilton. As of now, the Mercedes position is still in a state of flux. The brand is certainly in a sensitive position. The car itself has arrived at the point where it is no longer a compelling choice for top performers.
That’s the tricky thing with racing. To get the best drivers, you need wins, but to win, you need, you guessed it, the best drivers. Is this the end for Mercedes’ world-class F1 car? Of course not. Fluctuation in motorsports is common. While there are certainly cars that have had a longer dynasty than the 10 or so years that Mercedes-Benz enjoyed, it would be foolish to count out this major manufacturer and leader in innovation. They will find their stride eventually.
Is it Reasonable to bet on Mercedes?
That’s the more interesting question. If you are a sports bettor, you want to know where to stick your money. Mercedes will eventually have what you might call ideal investment potential. That is to say that they can reasonably be expected to recover their standings, probably in the not-so-distant future.
The time between now and when they again blow up will be your classic “buy cheap, sell high scenario.” In other words? You’ll get long odds on a good car driven by a driver destined to stand in the winner’s circle. If you’re interested in perusing betting options, you can do that here:
https://www.youbet.com/states/colorado/
But when will that day come?
Ha! No one knows. That’s the fun of being a motorsport fan. When the best racers in the world show up at an event, almost anything can happen.