Mercedes 'eliminates relics of the past' to forget previous success - Toto Wolff

Mercedes

Mercedes 'eliminates relics of the past' to forget previous success - Wolff

Mercedes has secured 314 pieces of silverware since 2014 but you won't catch Wolff looking into the trophy cabinet

Sam Hall

Wednesday 2 June 2021 14:05

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed the team 'eliminates all relics of the past' to prevent complacency from creeping into the mindset at Brackley.

Mercedes has dominated F1 since the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrid power units in 2014 although faces stiff competition this year from Red Bull.

In the period since the power unit regulations were introduced, Mercedes has claimed 209 drivers' trophies and 105 constructors' prizes for race wins but in an Oxford University 'Leadership in Extraordinary Times' discussion, Wolff categorised the silverware as "relics of the past".

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Asked if Mercedes' looks back to sustain its success into the future, Wolff said: "It is quite interesting. It is something that I read from a famous baseball coach: 'Yesterday's home run doesn't win you today's game'. That is very much true.

"We are trying with simple actions to forget about the success of the past few years. Every point goes to zero and you can build upon the organisation but as everything starts from new, you have to earn your laurels again.

"We do this by basically eliminating all relics of the past, all trophies, everything that shows us that we have won seven consecutive championships because you cannot rely on that."

F1 competition is "fierce"

Max Verstappen's Monaco Grand Prix victory ensured Mercedes topped neither the drivers' nor the constructors' championship tables, positions the manufacturer had enjoyed dating back to the 2018 German Grand Prix.

Wolff added: "It is important to acknowledge that the competition is fierce and it is the best people in the industry and you have just got to do the best job again in this coming year in every session and every day rather than relying on past year's success."