The 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix was supposed to represent redemption for Mercedes, with the team tipped to return to winning ways after a dismal 2022.
Unfortunately for the Silver Arrow’s their decision to stick with their 2022 design approach has not worked, with the team now falling behind Aston Martin to become the fourth fastest team on the grid.
Following Charles Leclerc’s retirement from the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes managed to finish the race with Lewis Hamilton in P5 and George Russell in P7, split by the Aston Martin of the injured Lance Stroll.
Mercedes never really looked like being able to challenge the Ferraris or Aston Martins for a place on the podium and look to be seconds slower than race winners Red Bull.
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This is not where Mercedes fans would have hoped and expected to see their team and the Silver Arrows have now posted an open letter to their fans in apology.
“Bahrain hurt. It hurt each one of us, who head into every season determined to fight for world championships. It hurt the team as a whole, after pouring so much hard work into a car that hasn’t met our expectations,” began the letter.
“The situation we face right now isn’t the one that any of us wanted – but it’s the one we have. That’s the reality of it. And the simple questions are: what can we do about it, and what will we do about it?
“We won’t panic or make knee-jerk reactions. In a spotlight as fierce as F1, people are quick to point fingers, or look for scapegoats. But you know us better than that.
“Inside the team, we talk about having the courage to fail, the character to be accountable and the strength to see failure as an opportunity.
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“We have been open and searingly honest about where we find ourselves. And we are working urgently and calmly to build our recovery plan, focusing on what needs to happen short term, medium term and long term to win.
“We already have developments in the pipeline for the next races – and there will be more to come. But this won’t be the work of a moment; there are no silver bullets in F1.”
The statement continues to reassure fans that Mercedes will do everything they can to return to the top of F1, no matter how difficult that task is.
Team principal Toto Wolff has admitted the Mercedes now need to decide which development pathway is the best for the team to take going forwards, with their current approach clearly not being the correct one.