Why did Mercedes leave F1 for 55 years as a constructor? All about the German team’s history in the sport
Mercedes is considered one of the top teams in Formula 1. They have scored a total of eight constructors’ championships, along with 129 race wins and 302 podium finishes. Their drivers have also brought home nine titles racing under their banner. However, there was a period of 55 years where they didn’t race in F1. This was because of an incident that took place in June of that year, at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans.
During the 1955 Le Mans race, the Mercedes of Pierre Levegh was in an intense battle with Jaguar’s Mike Hawthorn. During the battle, they collided, causing Levegh’s car to crash into the grandstand. The contact caused a huge explosion, making debris fly around, severely injuring and killing more than 80 spectators. After the incident, Mercedes chose not to continue in motorsport. By the end of the year, they withdrew from many motorsport series, including Formula 1.
Mercedes returned to Le Mans in 1987, and F1 in 1994. But, when they came back to the F1 grid, it was as an engine supplier. In association with Ilmor, they supplied power units to Sauber, and then in 1997 to McLaren. Using the Mercedes-powered vehicle, McLaren would score constructors’ championships in 1998.
In 2009, the Force India and Brawn GP teams also secured the German automaker as their engine supplier, with the organization deciding to also buy a stake in the Brawn GP outfit. That same season, Brawn GP would secure the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, prompting the car manufacturer to buy out the team completely.
By 2010, for the first time in 55 years, Mercedes was back on the Formula 1 grid, with the Brawn team now being renamed. Their first driver line-up featured Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.
Mercedes’ run in Formula 1
The team started strong in their debut season, with Juan Manuel Fangio scoring his second drivers’ title in 1954 with the outfit, and repeating the same success in his second season with the team.
The WCC was not awarded till 1958 so their championship glory was majorly earned by their drivers. Karl Kling and Hans Hermann were part of the Daimler-Benz AG line-up in 1954. They finished P5 and P7 in the drivers’ standings.
In 1955, the Daimler-Benz team also added Stirling Moss and Piero Taruffi as part of their driver line-up. They finished second and sixth, while Kling finished 11th and Hermann finished 22nd. Also part of the line-up during their first two seasons was Hermann Lang and Andre Simon.
A comeback to remember for Mercedes as they dominate with Lewis Hamilton
After returning to the grid in 2010, Mercedes finished the season P4 in the constructors’ standings. 2011 and 2012 would end with P4 and P5 results for the team. 2013 was when things began changing for the Brackley-based outfit.
With the departure of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton stepped into his place on the driver line-up. With the Hamilton-Rosberg duo, Mercedes ended up finishing the season in the runner-up position in the constructors’ standings. The following year, they secured their first-ever constructors’ title, while Hamilton scored his first drivers’ championship win with the team.
This would be the start of a strong run for the team. From 2014 to 2021, Mercedes would consecutively win the constructors’ championship. While Hamilton won the 2014 and 2015 titles, his teammate would pick up the 2016 championship win, and the Briton finished in the runner-up spot. Rosberg would then choose to leave the sport, and Hamilton would go on to win another four championship titles.
Their era of dominance, unfortunately, came to an end. Post-2021, Mercedes would secure P3, P2, and P4 in the championship standings. This year, the team currently sits in P3 and is 203 points away from the top spot on the table.
