Winning races has typically come easily for Mercedes during the hybrid era, with the Silver Arrows having claimed well over a hundred wins since 2014.
Despite their experience of winning, though, nothing could prepare them for how emotional winning a race in 2022 would be, following all their difficulties.
This season was like no other for the Germans, and unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons.
The team lost their spot comfortably as the team to beat, with the Silver Arrows having ended the year third in the Constructors’ Championship.
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For the majority of the season, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell found themselves battling for a top five, let alone a podium or a victory.
It was something that Hamilton in particular really wasn’t used to experiencing, given that he’s won six titles since 2014.
Mercedes had to pull together like never before in 2022, to fix their horrific porpoising issue and try to regain some dignity as a frontrunning F1 team.
The Brackley-based team did just that and even moved ahead of Ferrari in terms of overall performance by the end of the season, an incredible feat given that Charles Leclerc won two of the opening three races.
Mercedes’ moment in the spotlight finally came at the Brazilian Grand Prix, though, as their months of hard work were rewarded with a one-two for the side, with Russell claiming a maiden win in the championship.
Whilst it was Hamilton who had to settle for second, following contact with 2021 rival Max Verstappen, the 37-year-old admitted to Channel 4 that seeing the team so happy after the incredibly gruelling year was “quite an emotional thing”.
This is truly understandable, given just how far off the pace the Germans were at the start of the season.
“I saw a video of my team when we got to Dubai,” explained Hamilton to Channel 4.
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“Just seeing everyone celebrating all together was quite an emotional thing, knowing how hard everyone had worked through the year.
“Also knowing how difficult it would have been for them, knowing how hard they would have worked last winter and they were not rewarded for all the hard work they had put in necessarily.
“The whole season, not giving up and continuing to keep the faith, keep the hopes high and get a one-two was a very proud moment for me and the whole team.”