Mercedes publishes open letter towards fans: 'That's the reality'

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Mercedes publishes open letter towards fans
11 March 2023 at 09:26
Last update 11 March 2023 at 09:36
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  • GPblog.com

Mercedes had hoped to catch up to Red Bull Racing in 2023, but in Bahrain nothing could be further from the truth. The gap with Red Bull Racing was around six tenths in qualifying, while in the Grand Prix on Sunday it was as much as a second per lap. The German racing stable has addressed its fans in an open letter.

At Mercedes, they have already put the 2023 World Championship out of their minds and so this season promises to be an 'in-between year'. The Brackley-based team is strongly considering jettisoning the W14 concept and developing a completely new car. A decision on this has not yet been made, but the noises are getting stronger.

Mercedes feels the pain

Meanwhile, another disappointing year awaits fans. Mercedes writes on its own website: "Bahrain hurt. It hurt each one of us, who head into every season determined to fight for world championships. It hurt the team as a whole, after pouring so much hard work into a car that hasn’t met our expectations. And we know it hurt you, our fans, too. Your passion and support are so important in driving us forward – and we know that we feel the same pain."

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are behind the times and it is going to take some time to catch up. "The situation we face right now isn’t the one that any of us wanted – but it’s the one we have. That’s the reality of it. And the simple questions are: what can we do about it, and what will we do about it?"

Mercedes continued the open letter: "First, we won’t panic or make knee-jerk reactions. In a spotlight as fierce as F1, people are quick to point fingers, or look for scapegoats. But you know us better than that. Inside the team, we talk about having the courage to fail, the character to be accountable and the strength to see failure as an opportunity. We have been open and searingly honest about where we find ourselves. And we are working urgently and calmly to build our recovery plan."

Mercedes appeals to fans

Last year's constructor number three states that developments are already in the pipeline for the coming weekends. Mercedes is keeping its head up and is not going to back down, it writes itself. The team is also appealing to fans. "Whether you’re offering 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 debate, where people treat others and are treated with respect – be they team members, Mercedes fans or rival fans."

Mercedes: "Are you ready to join us for the fight back? If not, then there are no hard feelings. If yes, then let’s do this."