It is not unusual for a Formula 1 team, let alone one as successful in the last decade as Mercedes, to apologize to fans for what they considered a painful performance. And it was to finish fifth with Lewis Hamilton in 50″977 and with George Russell seventh in 55″873 from the winner Max Verstappen was a defeat that was painful for not meeting expectations. It’s not just that the distance to the untouchable Red Bull has been extended and Ferrari more or less maintains the class, it’s that Aston Martin, client of their engines, has also passed them.
Here’s what the letter to Mercedes fans said in which they admitted their “dismal” performance:
“To all our fans.
Bahrain was hurt. Every one of us has been hurt, facing each season determined to fight for the world championships. It hurt the team as a whole, who invested so much effort in a car that didn’t meet our expectations. And we know it hurts you, our fans, too. Your passion and support is so important to us moving forward, and we know we both feel the pain.
The situation we face today is not what any of us wanted, but it is what we have. That’s the reality. And the simple questions are: what can we do about it and what are we going to do about it?
The reaction was not rushed
At first First of all, we will not panic or react quickly. In a spotlight as fierce as F1, people are quick to point or look for scapegoats. But you know us better. Within the team, we talk about having the courage to fail, the character to be responsible, and the strength to see failure as an opportunity. We have been open and honest about where we are. And we are working urgently and calmly to develop our recovery plan, focusing on what needs to happen in the short, medium and long term to win. We already have projects underway for future races, and more to come. But it will not be the work of a moment; there is no silver bullet in F1.
United as always
Second, we will hold our heads high and take this journey one at a time, together. We are Mercedes. We know the standards we aspire to, and no one flinches when we look at the mountain we must climb. It won’t be easy, but what’s the value of easy? These are the moments where the character is forged; the moments when a team becomes greater than the sum of its parts, facing difficult problems and conquering them. We are together through thick and thin: from Toto, Lewis and George, to every woman and man in the Brackley and Brixworth factories. And we love that challenge.
They asked for the support of the fans
Third, we will also ask each of you to push us forward. Whether it’s criticism or support, there’s a right way to do it, and a wrong way. We want our online community to be a safe space, full of healthy discussion, where people treat each other and are treated with respect, whether they are team members, Mercedes supporters or rival fans . We have a zero tolerance policy for any form of discrimination, abuse or harassment, and we will take appropriate action on any comment or post that does not follow our guidelines. And we want your support to make it a community-wide reality.
We are already working hard to get back on track for this 2023 season. The recovery started immediately after the race, and everyone has a role to play.
Are you ready to join us in the fight? Otherwise, no hard feelings. If yes, let’s do it.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
