We Are The Champions (Part Two)
Mercedes-Benz have been part of the motorsport scene from the earliest days, a Benz was entered and finished in the 1894 Paris to Rouen competition, generally accepted as the first real motor race.
Since that time they have raced and rallied everywhere, usually with great success, dominating Grand Prix racing in the ’30s and again in the mid-’50s. 2014 saw a new set of regulations for Formula One, once more Mercedes-Benz was stronger and better prepared than the opposition, winning Constructors and Drivers Championships. However the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull were expected to close the gap in 2015, how did that pan out?
Out of the 19 Grand Prix held this year Mercedes won 16 times, only Sebastian Vettel’s hat trick in the rejuvenated Ferrari prevented a whitewash for Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton became World Champion with ten victories, his third title.
Nico Rosberg won the other six Mercedes triumphs, a iron willed performance, refusing to be crushed by Lewis blistering speed and Nico was rewarded with a late season run of victories and second place in the Championship. Will 2016 be his year?
Further evidence of the superiority of the Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid was demonstrated by securing 18 Pole Positions (11 for Lewis, seven for Nico).
It was a crushing performance from the British-based team, that arose phoenix-like from the ashes of the BAR/Honda team back in 2009.
The one constant in the Formula One paddock is that everything changes so it is considered unlikely that Mercedes will enjoy the same level of success in 2017 but even with the gap closing it is difficult to see the top spot on the podium going to any other contender.
(Photos: Copyright and courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)
