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Mercedes has a long history in Formula One, but a modest track record as an independent team. This year, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg winning the constructors' title, the brand with the star logo has finally cemented its importance in the sport.
The history of Mercedes in Formula 1 resembles that of a phoenix rising from the ashes of one of the darkest periods in motorsport. After making its debut in the world championship in 1954 and delivering two world titles to Juan Manuel Fangio, the German giant disappeared from the sport almost overnight. The catalyst was the Le Mans disaster in 1955, where Pierre Levegh's Mercedes, after colliding with Mike Hawthorn and Lance Macklin, became a deadly projectile that killed the Frenchman and more than eighty spectators—the worst accident ever recorded in the world of motor racing. In shock, Mercedes withdrew from all competition, even as the promise of future glory loomed.
But the brand's heart for motorsport never stopped beating. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it maintained a discreet presence in touring car and prototype series, before making its big comeback in Formula 1 in 1993, this time as an engine supplier. In partnership with Ilmor, Mercedes first supplied Sauber before entering into a long-standing alliance with McLaren, a partnership that resulted in the Constructors' Championship title in 1998. A second title came ten years later when Mercedes-powered Brawn GP won the 2009 championship.
On the strength of this success, the manufacturer took the bold decision to buy the new British team in 2009, transforming itself into a full-fledged team. Between 2010 and 2013, the team underwent a radical overhaul: Michael Schumacher was persuaded to come out of retirement, Ross Brawn was retained, and the management team was revamped with Toto Wolff, Niki Lauda, and chief designer Paddy Lowe. The rebuild yielded slow results, and Schumacher and Brawn eventually left the team without managing to restore it to its former dominance.
Everything changed with the rule change in 2014. Mercedes' hybrid powertrain and aerodynamic package gave Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg a virtually unbeatable car, making the constructors' title a foregone conclusion, which was confirmed at the Russian Grand Prix that year. This triumph marked the beginning of a new era, but it also set an intimidating financial threshold. To justify the astronomical investments made since 2010, Mercedes must not only stay ahead of its rivals, but also constantly innovate, so that the rapid fluctuations that have recently shaken Ferrari and Red Bull do not compromise its hard-won supremacy.
