Mercedes technical director admits mistake: 'Then it would have been better now'

Mercedes started 2022 with difficulty and failed to turn the tide during the season. As a result, the team is already almost fully focused on next season to fight at the forefront again. Technical director Mike Elliott admits his mistakes of last winter.

Mercedes' bold experiments in building the W13 were a flop. The team that has been the dominant force in F1 in recent years came up with the wrong interpretation of the rules and made a car that could not win this year. Although the team will come up with some improvements next weekend in the United States, the team is already heavily focused on developing the car for next year. Speaking to F1 insider Elliott said, "The improvements we are bringing are a mix of improvements for this year and are there to understand whether we have moved in the right direction for next year."

Mercedes admits own mistake

Elliott implicitly admits that the focus is already on 2023. The improvements made to the W13 in recent weeks are all aimed at improving current performance, but are also already the first initiatives in terms of the 'philosophy change' on aerodynamics at Mercedes. Elliott looks back on 2022: "If we are honest, we were not too complacent, but we did have certain expectations after winning eight championships. Looking back on the decision we made last winter, I think it was a mistake."

The Mercedes chief balks at the mistake. A less aggressive step in development and keeping the familiar method would have been more beneficial, according to Elliott: "If we had continued down the path we had previously taken, we probably would have been in a much better position."