Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, prominent figures in the Mercedes team, were unable to secure a Grand Prix victory throughout the entirety of the 2023 season. Despite their commitment to Mercedes until 2025, both Hamilton and team boss Toto Wolff deviated from the team’s renowned ‘no-blame culture’ during the challenging season. In a departure from their usual success, the Silver Arrows witnessed Red Bull dominating the Constructors’ Championship and Max Verstappen excelling in individual standings, with Mercedes failing to notch a single Grand Prix win.
While Mercedes had previously thrived on a philosophy of ensuring collective responsibility without singling out individuals or groups for shortcomings, the 2023 season proved to be a formidable test. Toto Wolff maintains that the team’s philosophy remains intact, despite facing numerous challenges in the past two seasons. Before 2022, Hamilton had never experienced an entire Formula 1 season without securing a Grand Prix win. However, the seven-time world champion now finds himself in a remarkable two-year drought without a podium finish.
Mercedes’ decision to stick with the distinctive zero sidepod design, despite previous season struggles, contributed to their difficulties. Frustration reached a tipping point, leading both Hamilton and Wolff to violate their own golden rule of a blame-free culture. In March, Hamilton directed a pointed message to the Mercedes mechanics, expressing his dissatisfaction: “Last year, I told them the issues with the car. I’ve driven many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs and doesn’t need. It’s about accountability, owning up, and acknowledging that we didn’t listen, and the car isn’t where it needs to be, requiring us to put in the necessary work.”