Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says his team is still plagued by ‘suspicion and pessimism’, despite taking seven consecutive Formula 1 world championships in a row.
The German carmaker has had the upper hand since the hybrid era began in 2014, and was a clear step away from last year’s competitors as it has been beaten just three times.
Wolff says he was surprised by the size of his 2020 win, with the Red Bull challenge falling short and Ferrari ‘s pace falling off.
However, Wolff says in an exclusive interview with Autosport that it is the paranoid mindset of the team that is key to his continued success that leaves him in fear of ending his run of leadership.
“Every year, achievements similar to ours [in 2020] come as a surprise, because by nature, we are skeptical, “Wolff said.
“That keeps us on our toes for the targets we have set ourselves, and we are always a little behind.
“In that respect, we are all surprised when we come out of the blocks and see that we are in a good position. But that suspicion and pessimism is around our own level of performance. still dragging us through all the seasons.
“We’re never quite sure we’ll do it, until that’s done. And we’re not fishing for suggestions here. It’s just our idea.”
Wolff says he has no answer as to why strong rivals like Red Bull and Ferrari have failed to pull together a strong enough title challenge over the last few years, although he suggests that some key strengths have helped Mercedes.
“We respect our competitors, and we have a lot of respect for the people in those teams,” he said.
“I see those people in the paddock and I know they give it their all, in the same way we give it their all.
“I can’t look into other organizations, which is why it’s very difficult for me to identify where their weaknesses are or where we have advantages.
“I know we are a great place to work, we are a fun place, but we are also a place of stress.
“We can find the balance between bursting pipes or removing diamonds. And that’s something you can’t put on a PowerPoint presentation. This is something you have to live with every day.
“You have to empower. You have to be a safe place for the workers. You have to let them talk, make mistakes and have the right values. And all that can only be built over time. “
Wolff is clear though that an unbeaten Mercedes determination could push his staff to the edge, as happened when his engine division faced the challenge of the powerful Ferrari 2019 engine that was brought on finally back with FIA technical guidelines.
“When I look within MGP and HPP, or Mercedes motor sports group, I see that the last year is on the verge of performance delivery, amid the cost cap environment and the restructuring required by COVID , it has been, raising its taxes, “he said.
“We need to do everything within our instrument arsenal to try to be in a good place and keep our energy levels high, set the right goals and find a reason in what we do.
“But years like 2020 are sometimes very difficult and not as simple as years before.”
Reflecting specifically on Mercedes ’engine division and the pressure placed on it to reclaim lost ground to Ferrari, Wolff said:“ HPP was pushed to the limit in 2019, trying to catch up to the standard power unit that was a Ferrari [in 2019].
“I would say at certain stages, moving into unhealthy terrain with the support of MGP, where there was a need to develop chassis-related items to the power unit.
“I think we pushed ourselves so hard that we took a big step over the winter and, in a way, it’s ironic that we were pushed so hard by those who fell back there. in 2020. “