2018 Review – Mercedes: a 5-star constellation!
At the end of 2018, Motorsinside invited you to look back at the performances of the teams and their drivers this season. It is therefore time to conclude this series with the world champion team for the fifth consecutive time: Mercedes.
Ranking in the championship: 1st place, 655 points
Best qualifying position: 1st place, Hamilton (Abu Dhabi, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Belgium, Hungary, Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain, Australia) and Bottas (Russia, Austria)
Best race finish: 1st place, Hamilton (Abu Dhabi, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Italy, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, Azerbaijan)
And that’s 5! Mercedes has become the world champion of constructors for the fifth consecutive time, achieving no less than 13 poles and 9 race victories. It thus becomes the fifth most titled constructor in the history of Formula 1. However, it should be noted that securing this fifth crown was not a smooth ride for Mercedes; indeed, the dominance of the reigning team has ended, as the Ferrari SF71H was well designed.
At the end of March, the first Grand Prix of the season on Australian soil announces a fierce battle between the Silver Arrows and Ferrari. After a stunning pole position by Hamilton, it is Vettel who ultimately triumphs due to a software issue. In Austria, the star-branded team experiences a major scare, with both drivers forced to retire due to the unreliability of their new engine. Hamilton is the unfortunate victim of a fuel pressure drop and Bottas of a gearbox problem.
Mercedes showed some weaknesses this season, with the team being less confident than in previous seasons and even succumbing to team orders. F1 spectators particularly noticed this in Russia, where driver No. 77 was forced by the pit wall to let his teammate No. 44 pass. In Monza, Bottas had already played the role of buffer by blocking Räikkönen to secure a victory for Hamilton. By the end of the season, the German team somewhat returned to its past dominance, and ultimately secured the championship with an 84-point lead over Ferrari.
Let us note that, unsurprisingly, we will indeed see Hamilton and Bottas driving for Mercedes next year.
Lewis Hamilton
Championship standings: 1st, 408 points
Best position in qualifying: 1st (Abu Dhabi, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Belgium, Hungary, Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain, Australia)
Best race finish: 1st (Abu Dhabi, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Italy, Hungary, Germany, France, Spain, Azerbaijan)
Lewis Hamilton once again showcased the extent of his talent by achieving no less than 11 poles and 11 victories this season. While Vettel long appeared to be a threat for the world title, from Monza onwards, the Brit established himself as the championship leader, with Vettel not securing a single victory thereafter. With his fifth title, Lewis Hamilton equals Juan Manuel Fangio, with the Mercedes driver even describing his 2018 season as the best year of his career.
Among the highlights of Lewis Hamilton’s season is his “remontada” at Hockenheim. Indeed, starting 14th, the Briton climbed to the top step of the podium by the end of the race. Well aided notably by his team’s tire strategy and Vettel’s fatal error, Lewis Hamilton certainly delivered his best race of the season on this German circuit.
Lewis Hamilton dominated the end of the championship. The Briton was crowned as early as the Mexican Grand Prix by finishing only in fourth place. Nevertheless, he concluded the season in style by securing pole position and winning in Abu Dhabi, thus ending the championship with a substantial lead of 88 points over the second place, Sebastian Vettel.
Valtteri Bottas
Ranking in the championship: 4th, 65 pts
Best qualifying position: 1st (Russia, Austria)
Best race finish: 2nd (Bahrain, China, Spain, Canada, Germany, Russia, Japan)
This season, Bottas has been unlucky, with punctures, off-track excursions, and team orders, the driver has not been spared. Indeed, in Baku, Bottas was forced to retire 3 laps before the finish due to a puncture. In Sakhir, it was a poorly executed pit stop by Mercedes that cost him dearly.
Regarding team orders, Toto Wolff describes him in Hungary as a “fantastic ally.” Bottas has indeed been the perfect teammate for Hamilton, facilitating some victories for him without jeopardizing precious points for the Briton.
Bottas will still have secured some impressive pole positions and delivered interesting races that could have led him to victory.
