2023 Season Debrief: Mercedes soldier on in 2023 from a difficult 2022
- mallikarull
- Dec 17, 2023
- 2 min read
Mercedes continue to move forward after a difficult 2022 season with the W13, the team opting to continue with the doomed ‘zero-sidepod’ concept that failed them last season, despite Hamilton’s hopes to ditch the concept. 2023 saw the first winless season for the team since 2011 and their least podiums since 2012. Hamilton continues his winless streak, having not won a race since Saudi Arabia in 2021.
Image: motorsport.com
Mercedes’ W14 debuted in Bahrain with the zero-sidepod concept, unhappy with the performance, Mercedes were quick to abandon the concept ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, which saw both Mercedes’ drivers finish on the podium for their best finish of the season. with the new sidepods, Mercedes came back fighting with some newfound pace, eventually battling Ferrari in the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi for P2 in the constructors.
Ferrari missing out on P2 by 3 points, Mercedes finishing the season with 409 points, still no match for Red Bull, who completed with 860 points, more than Ferrari and Mercedes combined.
Image: motorsport.com
Russell was the last driver to win a race for Mercedes, with his maiden win in Brazil 2022, the young brit without a win in 2023 and only 2 podiums, less than his teammate Hamilton who also went without a win and a Red Bull all over season but managing to finish on the podium for 6 out of 22 races in 2023.
Most notable moment for the team this season was in Qatar, where both drivers came together on the opening lap into turn 1. Hamilton taking responsibility for the collision, which saw him out of the race at turn 1 and his teammate able to complete the race, where he finished in P4. Mercedes missing out crucial points, bringing Ferrari closer in the championship.
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