Wolff: We chose the black W14 livery in the name of speed

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff outlined the team’s goals for 2023, assessed the chances in the title fight and explained why the decision was made to return to the black color of the car.

Q: Last season was difficult for the team. What do you expect from 2023?
Toto Wolff: Last year was difficult, but we learned a lot. I hope 2023 will confirm that we have found a solution to the problems and made the car better. We haven’t started the season yet, but there is no doubt that a serious challenge awaits us. I’m sure it will be fun.

Q: Do you think the problems of 2022 have made the team stronger?
Toto Wolff: We say that the adversaries will lament the days of our defeat, for on such days we learn the most. I’m sure many years from now we will look back and say, “The 2022 season was a defining season for the team.” After eight titles in a row, we knew that one day hard times would come. I hope 2022 was a one-off event and the new season will go much better.

Q: How impressed were you with the performance of the Brackley and Brixworth staff last year and this off-season?
Toto Wolff: Everyone at Brackley and Brixworth worked their best last year. When we realized that the car was not as good as we wanted, we mobilized all our reserves. The work has never stopped all year round.

Now we are ready to start the new season. I can see the enormous effort, motivation and energy that went into building the machine. We hope that the new car will be competitive enough to fight for the first positions.

Q: How would you describe the approach and philosophy the team took when making the car for 2023?
Toto Wolff: Last year’s W13 had a lot of speed potential, but we couldn’t unlock it and use all the downforce, although the car was very fast at the end of the season. However, on some tracks the build-up was strong enough that the riders were unable to achieve high results as the car did not allow them to attack at full power. We tried to keep W13’s strengths and eliminate its weaknesses. The assignment was to use the knowledge gained to improve the car as a whole.

Q: W14 will be leaving orbit soon. What does this mean for you personally and the team as a whole?
Toto Wolff: It’s just great to have the car at Silverstone on the day of the presentation. The first engine start at the base gives everyone goosebumps, and then we all go to watch the break-in.

Last year we realized the problems pretty quickly and I hope things will go smoother this year. In addition, we hope that the English weather will be favorable to us and we can run next week and prepare for tests in Bahrain.

Q: How motivated is Lewis Hamilton to take the team back to first positions?
Toto Wolff: Lewis was very motivated in 2022, but we couldn’t give him a car to win the title. I hope that in 2023 we will take a step forward and fight for race wins on a stable basis and return to the title fight. However, our rivals were very strong last year and we are still catching up. Everything has to be right so that we get a car that can give Lewis the eighth title.

Q: What is George Russell’s mood for season two at Mercedes?
Toto Wolff: After Williams, George adapted well to the team. He hoped that the move to Mercedes would allow him to challenge for the title, but he quickly realized that would not happen in 2022. However, he worked really well with Lewis and the engineers to make the car better. George took his first win in Brazil, which was a bit late as he lost his chance to win in Bahrain two years ago.

Going into his second season with the team, George is motivated, hard prepared and 100% focused. I know he would love to get behind the wheel of the W14 as soon as possible.

Q: Why did the team decide to return to the black color of the car?
Toto Wolff: We chose the W14’s black color scheme in the name of speed. The team was looking for every opportunity to reduce the weight of the car, and the same was true for the livery. This is a kind of reference to the history of the Silver Arrows. In the past, Mercedes had a white, but very heavy car, so the team scraped off the paint, left the body in aluminum and won. We take a similar approach.

Last year the car was too heavy. We tried to find every opportunity to lose even one gram of weight – so now history repeats itself. You can see carbon inserts on the car, as well as elements painted in matte black.

When we changed the color in 2020, the main driver was to support the principles of diversity and equality that are so close to our hearts. From this point of view, black is part of the team’s DNA, and we’re happy to give it back.

Q: In the new season, Formula 1 will return to Las Vegas. Are you happy with it?
Toto Wolff: The popularity of Formula 1 in the US is growing rapidly. 440 thousand spectators came to the stage in Austin – all tickets were sold. Stage in Miami last year was great too, and now we’re going to Las Vegas. I’m sure we’re in for a great show.

We haven’t raced in Las Vegas in the near past, but the city is just incredible. There’s nothing better than a nighttime race on the Las Vegas Strip! Tickets for the podium sold out in 25 minutes – this shows the level of interest in this Grand Prix.

Q: What are your hopes and expectations for the upcoming season?
Toto Wolff: At the start of each season, our hopes and expectations are always tied to the title fight. The battle for the first positions requires resilience, teamwork and total dedication. We will rise to every challenge, put the team’s best interests first and will do everything we can to reclaim every millisecond. This year we will do our best to fight forward.

Question: What can you say about the 10th anniversary of your work in the team?
Toto WolffA: I can’t believe it’s been ten years already. When I came to Mercedes, I saw the prospects of the project. A few years later, we signed a new contract, which also provided for my participation in a slightly different project. After seven years I realized that this is my team and that I am fully committed to their interests. I am a shareholder of the team and continue to work with my colleagues.

I don’t feel like ten years have passed. It feels like I walked into Brackley’s office for the first time yesterday, when it was actually January 2013.