Former Formula 1 driver Christian Danner says the buck stops with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as far as their failure to launch a title challenge this year.
The new technical regulations brought about the return of ground effect aerodynamics in 2022 and, as such, a completely new philosophy was needed as to how to design the cars.
Mercedes’ adaptation to them has been a slow one, and they have fallen well behind Red Bull and Ferrari due to “porpoising” and bouncing.
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The skinny sidepod design has not worked as they wanted it to, and the stiff suspension coupled with the low ride height has made their lives a lot more difficult because of the painful effects of the impact with the track surface.
If anyone can take a car that is slightly off the pace and win a title with it, Hamilton would be your man having won 103 races and seven titles in his illustrious career.
But a car as erratic and uncompetitive as this year’s W13 is very difficult to drag into title contention, and Danner believes that Wolff should shoulder the brunt of the responsibility for that.
“Let me put it this way, Hamilton has already been written off by many people, especially the journalists, but only on Hamilton can it still be done!” he told Servus TV.
“It’s the same as with other top drivers, he needs his car. If he doesn’t come along, it’s Toto Wolff’s fault. He is responsible for delivering a good car.
“If you compare it, the Mercedes certainly can’t come close to Ferrari and Red Bull at the moment, “I appreciate him [Wolff] very much.
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“He really has won enough titles in recent years. But please who made the car like this? That’s what the team does. The car is just tuned too hard. That’s the problem.”
The Brackley-based side have been on the podium in both of the last two races through Russell in Baku and Hamilton in Canada, and it seemed in Montreal that the team had a much better handle of how to make their car work.
The ride was less physically taxing, and Wolff even suggested that their pace was up there with Red Bull at times, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“However, you can tune a car yourself,” explained Danner.
“Now all of a sudden it seems to be working again, and they are no longer in pain.”
Mercedes’ 10 races without a win is their longest drought in nine years but, following their strong showing in Canada, there is hope that at least one top-step appearance could await them this season.