Mercedes has been forced to halt the development of its current Formula 1 car due to the significant costs incurred from recent crashes. The strict rules of the cost cap leave no budget for further updates.
Soaring Costs Due to Crashes
Since the summer, Mercedes has been dealing with expensive accidents that have significantly disrupted their financial planning. Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed during training in Monza, and George Russell caused high repair costs due to incidents during the qualification in Austin and again during training in Mexico. The chassis damage caused by Russell’s crash, in particular, has resulted in a significant financial drain. These cost increases have left Mercedes with no room to further improve the car. “The cost cap puts us in a difficult position,” says team boss Toto Wolff. “Due to three major crashes, we are now at a disadvantage, especially the damage on Friday in Mexico has dealt a heavy blow to our budget.”
“The rules surrounding the cost cap, which will also apply to engines from 2023, limit teams in how much they can spend on improvements. Wolff explains that due to these restrictions, Mercedes is forced to halt investment in further updates for the rest of the season. “We no longer have a budget for new parts. There will be two more upgrades in Brazil, but after that, it’s really over. Any further development is simply not possible due to restrictions.”
Creative Solutions
Due to the financial limits, Mercedes now has to look for improvement and stability in other ways. Two new floor plates will be introduced in Brazil, but the team may use a mix of old and new parts to better understand the impact on performance. “Perhaps George Russell wants to test the new floor, while Lewis gets the old floor. It will be an interesting test to see if there is instability at high and low speeds.”
Despite the pressure of the cost cap, Mercedes allows its drivers to race hard. Wolff indicates that he has confidence that Hamilton and Russell will not take unnecessary risks. “I have no doubt about my drivers and let them race. The costs after the crashes are a setback, but we still want to remain competitive,” says the Austrian.
