Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W13
Autosport Plus
Opinion

The difference between Mercedes’ stumble and the fall of F1 giants

OPINION: Mercedes endured its worst season of the hybrid Formula 1 era, but was mercifully spared its first winless campaign in over a decade late on. It has owned up to the mistakes it made which led to its troubled W13. And while its task to return to title-challenging contention is not small, its 2022 season seems more like a blip than the beginning of a downward spiral.

Red Bull bucked a Formula 1 trend on its way back to the summit. Even during seven comparatively fallow seasons after the Sebastian Vettel-fronted glory days, it never satisfied the criteria of a ‘fallen giant’. The fractious Renault-powered fragility that bottomed out with a winless 2015 and fourth in the points took it close. And throughout its time off the top, it played second fiddle to Mercedes. But Christian Horner and co remained in the mix.

Certainly, the slump was not in the same league as its preeminent predecessors. An exceptional Fernando Alonso in 2012 merely masked a lukewarm Ferrari coming down from its 2000s pomp. The signs of a McLaren revival have only properly arrived under the leadership of Andreas Seidl. As for Williams, it remains one of F1’s great ‘superteams’ only thanks to history.

Previous article Why Binotto's exit leaves Ferrari with an impossible target for F1 2023
Next article Podcast: The decisions which cost Binotto his Ferrari F1 job

More from Matt Kew

Hulkenberg: Smaller F1 teams need “unorthodox” strategies to score points

Hulkenberg: Smaller F1 teams need “unorthodox” strategies to score points

F1 Formula 1
Hulkenberg: Smaller F1 teams need “unorthodox” strategies to score points Hulkenberg: Smaller F1 teams need “unorthodox” strategies to score points
Sauber: Audi's accelerated F1 takeover a boost for short term

Sauber: Audi's accelerated F1 takeover a boost for short term

F1 Formula 1
Sauber: Audi's accelerated F1 takeover a boost for short term Sauber: Audi's accelerated F1 takeover a boost for short term
RB sets end-of-2024 date for moving to new Milton Keynes F1 facility

RB sets end-of-2024 date for moving to new Milton Keynes F1 facility

F1 Formula 1
RB sets end-of-2024 date for moving to new Milton Keynes F1 facility RB sets end-of-2024 date for moving to new Milton Keynes F1 facility
Ricciardo: RB has identified a few flaws with 2024 F1 car

Ricciardo: RB has identified a few flaws with 2024 F1 car

F1 Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Ricciardo: RB has identified a few flaws with 2024 F1 car Ricciardo: RB has identified a few flaws with 2024 F1 car
Vettel sent Bearman 'good luck' message ahead of Saudi Arabian F1 debut

Vettel sent Bearman 'good luck' message ahead of Saudi Arabian F1 debut

F1 Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Vettel sent Bearman 'good luck' message ahead of Saudi Arabian F1 debut Vettel sent Bearman 'good luck' message ahead of Saudi Arabian F1 debut
Massa files lawsuit against FIA, FOM over 2008 F1 Singapore GP

Massa files lawsuit against FIA, FOM over 2008 F1 Singapore GP

F1 Formula 1
Massa files lawsuit against FIA, FOM over 2008 F1 Singapore GP Massa files lawsuit against FIA, FOM over 2008 F1 Singapore GP
Russell: Mercedes "getting slower" during F1 rounds instead of rivals improving

Russell: Mercedes "getting slower" during F1 rounds instead of rivals improving

F1 Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Russell: Mercedes "getting slower" during F1 rounds instead of rivals improving Russell: Mercedes "getting slower" during F1 rounds instead of rivals improving
The impatient pair who’d hoped to be a thorn in Red Bull’s side again

The impatient pair who’d hoped to be a thorn in Red Bull’s side again

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
Bahrain GP
The impatient pair who’d hoped to be a thorn in Red Bull’s side again The impatient pair who’d hoped to be a thorn in Red Bull’s side again

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe