MERCEDES: The story of the team that refused to stay down Most people only think of Mercedes-Benz as a brand of luxury cars and Maybachs that you see on the road. But his story in motorsport is very different and much deeper. This dates back to the 1950s. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team’s journey doesn’t actually start in today’s Formula 1 paddock; it begins as a legend, where speed, innovation and ambition first came together to form what we now know as the Silver Arrows.Now, before we get into how Mercedes created their own empire, let’s see why Mercedes have the upper hand this season.The 2026 season has introduced another major overhaul of Formula 1 regulations, offering teams a new opportunity to reset. This time, Mercedes approached the changes with a very different mindset, avoiding the pitfalls that befell them in 2022.Mercedes developed a completely new philosophy of aerodynamics with a focus on creating a car that would perform consistently on different circuits and in different conditions. This wider operating window allowed them to get more reliable performance, which was lacking in previous years.
Mercedes F1 2026 (Image Credit: F1)
In the 2026 Formula 1 season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently leads the World Drivers’ Championship with 72 points. The 19-year-old Italian, who drives for Mercedes alongside team-mate George Russell, has enjoyed a record-breaking start to the year, securing back-to-back victories in China and Japan. By winning in Japan, he became the youngest driver in F1 history to lead the standings. His victory in Shanghai was the first for an Italian driver in 20 years since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.On 2 February 2024, Mercedes confirmed that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving after 12 years with the team, activating his exit clause to sign a multi-year contract with Scuderia Ferrari starting in the 2025 season. Later that year, on 31 August 2024, Mercedes announced junior driver Kimi Antonelli as his replacement. On 19 December 2024, it was confirmed that Valtteri Bottas would return to Mercedes as a reserve driver. However, his second stint with the team was short-lived as he left for the newly formed Cadillac F1 team ahead of the 2026 season. But the 19-year-old proved his worth in the first three rounds of the Grand Prix.Mercedes secured three podiums in F1 after almost 4 years, which Hamilton did in almost every race for Mercedes.
Mercedes Lewis Hamilton era (2014–2021): A period of unrivaled dominance
After returning to Formula 1, Mercedes enjoyed an era of dominance, largely thanks to team hero Lewis Hamilton. The period between 2014 and 2021 represents the peak of Hamilton’s dominance in Formula 1 with Mercedes. During those eight seasons, Hamilton secured six World Drivers’ Championships (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), establishing himself as the defining driver of the hybrid era. The only seasons in which he fell short were in 2016, when team-mate Nico Rosberg led him to the title, and in 2021, when he lost to Max Verstappen in a dramatic and controversial final.
Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes (photo Mercedes/F1)
In 2019 and 2020, Hamilton’s dominance reached the next level. In 2019, he accumulated a record number of points in a single season, demonstrating complete control of the championship. The 2020 season further cemented his legacy as he equaled Schumacher’s record of seven world titles and became the most successful driver in terms of race wins, surpassing 91 wins at the Portuguese Grand Prix.However, the 2021 season saw one of the most dramatic title fights in Formula 1 history. Hamilton reached his milestone 100th race win, but eventually lost the championship to Max Verstappen in the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ending his uninterrupted reign at the top.But it wasn’t just the Hamilton era; it was the Mercedes era when Formula 1 went from raw pace to balance of energy management. Here, Mercedes gained a decisive advantage. Their power unit was not only the most powerful in the network, but also the most efficient in the way energy was used and distributed. Unlike traditional engines, hybrid units rely heavily on energy recovery systems. Mercedes soon perfected this balance. Their engine could generate high straight-line speed while using less fuel, allowing drivers to push harder for longer without compromising racing strategy. Efficiency also meant better thermal management and reliability, two factors that often decide championships over a long season.This particular factor of the engine was fully understood by Hamilton, to which he adapted very quickly season after season. This period was known as the Mercedes-Hamilton era, with the other teams vying for second place as Mercedes always had the upper hand, until 2021 when the real downfall of Mercedes and Hamilton began.
2022 – A miscalculation that changed everything
When Formula 1 introduced ground aerodynamics in 2022, it fundamentally changed the way cars generated power. Instead of relying mainly on wings, the cars now produced most of their downforce from the airflow under the floor. This meant teams had to rethink everything from the shape of the car to the suspension to the airflow management.Before the teams could fully adapt, Mercedes faced a psychological setback after losing to Red Bull in 2021, where Max Verstappen won his first championship in the final. The Mercedes era was rocked and then aerodynamic changes hit the team.Mercedes chose not to follow the conventional design path. Instead, they introduced one of the most radical concepts of modern F1, the “zero sidepod” design, where bulky side structures were almost completely removed.From a technical point of view, the idea was truly innovative. Traditional sidepods guide airflow around the car, but they also create drag and can interfere with clean airflow to the rear. In theory, the concept could unlock an entirely new design philosophy that would give Mercedes an advantage similar to the one it had in 2014.Normally, if a concept doesn’t work, teams can gradually change direction. Mercedes couldn’t because their design was so extreme and different. Technically Mercedes lost power. But psychologically, they lost something even bigger, control. They bet on a revolutionary idea, but in Formula 1 a revolution only works if it is controllable.This four-year period was not their only failure. Before they won back-to-back championships when they returned in 2010, they weren’t even close to competing for titles. But where were they long term?
The Origins: 50’s Dominance and Download
The dominance of Mercedes actually dates back to the 1950s. They entered Formula One in 1954 and Juan Manuel Fangio won the championship that year and again in 1955. However, the team withdrew from motorsport after the tragic disaster at Le Mans in 1955. Mercedes returned as a factory team in 2010, signing seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Although the results between 2010 and 2013 looked modest, this period was a carefully planned rebuild.
Mercedes Formula 1 from the 1950s (Photo: f1)
Behind the scenes, Mercedes was building a long-term system rather than chasing short-term success. This work laid the groundwork for their dominance in the hybrid era. The results were in the team’s favor, winning a record 7 championships until a psychological setback struck in 2021.After an era of dominance, Mercedes returned to the race for three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2025, and then something happened that completely shocked the Formula 1 world.
Hamilton Exit: Why it changed everything for Mercedes
When Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes, it wasn’t just a routine driver transfer, it was the turning point of an era that defined modern Formula 1. Hamilton and Mercedes weren’t just successful, they were dependent on each other. In nearly a decade, they built one of the most dominant partnerships the sport has ever seen. But beyond the stats, Hamilton was central to how Mercedes operated. He not only drove the car, but shaped its development. His feedback influenced design philosophy, racing strategy and even the team’s confidence.
Lewis Hamilton’s Championship (Image: F1)
Now, in 2026, Mercedes’ aerodynamic and engine package is fully under control. Andrea drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have been actively involved in the engineering process and the results are in, as both drivers lead the Grand Prix.Mercedes in F1 is truly a story of the rebirth of an empire. They first dominated the raw pace era, then retreated after a tragic accident. When they returned, they learned and built a seven-year period of dominance followed by a psychological slump. Now they are experiencing another rebirth with a completely different team structure.
