The outcomes of the Bahrain Grand Prix had been “robust,” within the phrases of Mercedes.
And the staff desires their followers to know they’re working exhausting on turning issues round.
In an open letter to their followers launched on Saturday, Mercedes admitted that the outcomes of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix “damage,” however that work is underway to proper the ship. “We’ve got been open and searingly sincere about the place we discover ourselves,” stated the open letter launched to followers on Saturday. “And we’re working urgently and calmly to construct our restoration plan, specializing in what must occur quick time period, medium time period, and long run to win. We have already got developments within the pipeline for the subsequent races – and there might be extra to come back.”
Nonetheless, the staff cautioned that there may not be a fast repair. “However this gained’t be the work of a second; there are not any silver bullets in F1.”
Mercedes additionally outlined how, whereas the staff is dealing with a problem, it’s one which they relish. “It gained’t be simple – however the place’s the worth in one thing simple? These are the instances when character is cast; the instances when a staff turns into larger than the sum of its elements, tackling troublesome issues and conquering them,” continued the open letter. “We’re collectively by thick and skinny – from Toto, Lewis and George, to each single girl and man within the factories in Brackley and Brixworth. And we love that problem.”
The letter additionally included with a name to the legions of SIlver Arrows followers around the globe.
A name for civility on social media and past.
“Third, we might be calling on every certainly one of you, too, to energy us to the entrance. Whether or not you’re providing criticism or help, there’s a proper method to do it – and a improper means. We wish our on-line group to be a protected house filled with wholesome debate, the place individuals deal with others and are handled with respect – be they staff members, Mercedes followers or rival followers. We’ve got a zero-tolerance coverage on discrimination, abuse or bullying of any variety, and can take acceptable motion to any feedback or posts that don’t meet our pointers. And we wish your help to make {that a} actuality all through our group.”
The letter comes after what has been a troublesome few weeks for the staff. The W14, Mercedes’s challenger for the 2023 season, skilled some reliability points throughout pre-season testing, as George Russell’s session on the second day of testing ended early resulting from a hydraulic failure. The staff referred to as that second day of testing “troublesome” when the day drew to a detailed.
Then got here the Bahrain Grand Prix itself, which noticed Lewis Hamilton end in fifth, and Russell behind him in seventh. Following the race, the temper across the staff was downright despondent. In an announcement launched to the media together with SB Nation Russell questioned if maybe a turnaround wouldn’t be potential till subsequent season, and Group Principal Toto Wolff referred to as the Grand Prix “certainly one of our worst days in racing.”
Since then, Lewis Hamilton has lamented that the staff didn’t take heed to him when designing the W14 forward of this season, and the staff’s Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin indicated that modifications can be coming to the automobile sooner slightly than later.
And now, the staff is outlining their imaginative and prescient for the close to future, and hoping that their followers will be a part of them in relishing the challenges forward.
