The Mercedes F1 team enjoyed unprecedented dominance in the turbo hybrid era, winning every title but one. After an intense F1 season in 2021, Max Verstappen won the driver’s title after a clinical campaign. Granted, the last race wasn’t the most dignified; Controversial decisions by the racing committee under the safety car made it a bitter pill for the Brackley team.
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Of course, the outcome of the Abu Dhabi GP was a big disappointment for team principal Toto Wolff. Mercedes reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne recently spoke about the mood in the team after a painful defeat. Vandoorne currently drives for the Silver Arrows in the Formula E championship, apart from serving as a test driver for the F1 team.
Wolff looked visibly frustrated and helpless on this controversial last lap and expressed his disappointment to race director Masi.
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Formula 1 F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 10, 2021 Mercedes Executive Director Toto Wolff in the press conference of the team bosses FIA / Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS PICTURE WAS FROM A. PROVIDED THIRD SITE. NO RESALE. NO ARCHIVES
Mercedes reserve driver makes an honest confession
Weeks after the Abu Dhabi GP, there is still an underlying disappointment in the Silver Arrows camp. The last minute debacle cost Hamilton an eighth record title despite dominating much of the race. In a recent interview, Stoffel Vandoorne admitted that the team has still not overcome that loss. “You can really feel the disappointment about the loss of the drivers’ championship,” said the Belgian.
“But that’s normal. Toto is an incredible fighter and is passionate about the sport. He lives for the team and then a defeat like Abu Dhabi, where the win is so slipping, hurts a lot, ”added Vandoorne.
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The 29-year-old driver also mentioned earlier that this season’s title fight made the team work harder than ever. Mercedes has not experienced such tough competition in recent years. “It was very interesting to see how the team dealt internally with the completely new situation and the competition against Red Bull Racing”
“They were perhaps even more motivated than in the years when they dominated. Because they knew that everything had to go perfectly every weekend and that no mistakes were possible, ”summed up the Belgian.
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But now the 2021 season is behind them and the teams are looking forward to the 2022 season, which is subject to completely different rules. F1 fans expect a shift in the dynamics of the grid in the coming season. Let us know your predictions.
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