Mercedes AMG F1

History

Mercedes has a long and storied history in motor racing. The team can trace its roots back to the early days of Grand Prix racing in the 20th century, when the German government invested heavily in both Mercedes and its rival, Auto Union, to develop advanced racing machines.

Mercedes' first championship win came in 1954, with Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel. The team continued to achieve success throughout the 1950s, with Stirling Moss and Fangio winning multiple championships.

However, after a tragic accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955, Mercedes withdrew from all racing competition and did not return until the 1980s. Mercedes returned to Formula 1 as an engine supplier to the Sauber team in 1993 and then later switched to McLaren, where they won multiple championships with drivers such as Mika Häkkinen and Lewis Hamilton.

In 2009, Mercedes supplied engines to the Brawn team, which went on to win both the drivers' and constructors' championships. This success paved the way for Mercedes to return as a full constructor in 2010, after taking over the Brawn team.

Michael Schumacher joined the team, but it was Nico Rosberg who scored the first comeback win in China in 2012. Lewis Hamilton replaced Schumacher for the 2013 season, and the team went on to dominate the championship with their new V6 hybrid turbo engines.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates his win on the podium during the Spanish Grand Prix - Image credit: Eurosport

Over the past decade, Mercedes has continued to dominate Formula 1, winning every constructors' championship from 2014 onwards and Lewis Hamilton taking five drivers' championships. Mercedes' seven-year run of double titles is the longest in the sport, with the team achieving a 73.9% win percentage of races over that period.

The 2021 season was a battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, with the advantage between the two drivers seesawing throughout the year. Some highlights from the season include Verstappen's three consecutive wins from France to Austria, the collision between the two at Monza, Hamilton's disqualification in Brazil but comeback win, and the controversial race in Saudi Arabia.

Mercedes faced a challenging start to the 2022 season, with their car struggling for competitiveness and consistency, a phenomenon referred to as "porpoising." Despite implementing upgrades throughout the season, the team struggled to understand the car's behavior, which varied from race to race.

Despite these difficulties, Mercedes still managed to secure third place in the Constructors' Championship, a testament to the team's resilience and determination.