Certainly not the best season for Mercedes. After that of Hamilton and some technicians, the team has to face another significant farewell
It’s not quite the world championship the team was expecting Mercedes the one that has now started for seven races. After a Grand Prix in Imola that more or less met expectations with Red Bull still winning with Verstappen, the Anglo-German team finds itself in a less than ideal situation in the drivers’ and constructors’ standings.
The team that will be led at least until 2026 by the CEO Toto Wolff is currently in fourth position with 79 points in the constructors’ standings, outside the top three permanently occupied by Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren. In the drivers’ standings, however, the best is Russel who is however in seventh place, far from the fight for the title which obviously does not involve a disappointing Hamilton.
In short, the team is not exactly in the desired position. A further blow after the farewell of Hamilton, already certain of moving to Ferrari next year. Goodbye that he couldn’t be the last at Mercedes.
Mercedes, another goodbye possible
After saying goodbye to Mike Elliott, Loic Serra and Jerome d’Ambrosio (the latter having moved to Ferrari), Mercedes is about to lose another element: the head of aerodynamics Gioacchino Vino.
The latter would have made this decision after the Imola GP even if the team has not communicated anything official. Apparently, however, everything seems as decided as the gardening leave period for Wine established in six months. This is a usual measure in Formula 1 which prevents those who leave a team from sharing further sensitive data on the car and performance after leaving and from holding a position in another team in the established period.
At this point the team will have to look for someone to make up for this latest loss. To think that three weeks ago, there were even rumors of a possible landing by Max Verstappen at the home of Mercedes. And instead, the exodus continues with Toto Wolff also busy looking for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton for next season.
In this regard, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s prices are increasing. It seems that Wolff wants to immediately focus on the very young Italian driver (he will turn 18 in August), who grew up in the Mercedes Academy and is currently involved in Formula 2. Antonelli has already undergone two tests on the track with a 2022 Mercedes F1 single-seater. The results appear to have been encouraging.
