Formula 1: Mercedes' Toto Wolff says 2018 was 'most challenging season'

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Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won his fifth world championship title in October

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said 2018 was his team's "most challenging season" after picking up a fifth consecutive Formula 1 constructors' championship trophy.

Briton Lewis Hamilton was also awarded his fifth drivers' championship trophy at a gala in St Petersburg, Russia, staged by governing body the FIA.

"We all had to raise our game, each and every member of our team," Wolff said.

"Winning both titles is a testament to the incredibly hard work of the team."

Mercedes won 11 of the 21 races in a season that also included 13 pole positions and 26 podium finishes, while Hamilton became the joint second most successful driver of all time.

Hamilton joined Argentine legend Juan Manuel Fangio on five championship wins, behind Michael Schumacher who won seven titles.

But Hamilton - and Mercedes - had to fend off a strong challenge from Ferrari, with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen eventually finishing second and third in the drivers' championship.

"I feel honoured to receive this trophy on behalf of everyone in Brixworth, Brackley and Stuttgart who helped to win these championships," Wolff added.

Elsewhere, Britain's George Russell was awarded the FIA Formula 2 drivers' championship trophy after securing the title in Abu Dhabi in late November, while Germany's Mick Schumacher was awarded the Formula 3 European drivers' championship trophy.

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54 comments

  • Comment posted by David S, at 00:04 9 Dec 2018

    Lol@brian666. Ferrari have more money and arguably the faster car. Mercedes had the better team, and in Hamilton a better driver in that he didn't have brainfarts when under pressure (unlike Vettel). American accent? Where on earth did that thought come from?

  • Comment posted by cyram, at 03:49 9 Dec 2018

    Mercedes owe Hamilton for that one.

  • Comment posted by Ian 90, at 02:12 9 Dec 2018

    Well I enjoyed the season, "Genius" bashers enjoyed it as well or they would have little to do in their sad lives

    PPV = Bye-Bye F1

    Liberty may think they have it right but if the lose 2 European circuits in their greed quest it will be another Satellite sport drifting into obscurity, street circuit racing is not the answer either.

    BBC please move the Sport F1 tab into "Other Sports"

  • Comment posted by tendersteps, at 02:07 9 Dec 2018

    If Toto and the team keep the same mindset, no doubt they can repeat the same feat in 2019. Big congratulations!

  • Comment posted by DN7, at 00:27 9 Dec 2018

    Ferrari and Vettel need to take a leaf out of their respective competitor's books. Hamilton getting better with age. I expect Leclerc to give Vettel a good run for his money and Bottas might well be on borrowed time now...

  • Comment posted by sxwhitesoxs, at 11:04 9 Dec 2018

    Lewis came from a working class background, nobody bought his position in the team, he earned it. A great example for other young hopefuls. The great Ron Dennis (who is sadly missed at McLaren) should also be praised for the faith he had in this young boy. Mercedes are "Engineers" with a capital E and utilise British Engineering to create a winning team. Toto, your team is the best, wife included.

  • Comment posted by Lawful Neutral, at 09:54 9 Dec 2018

    Think folk are missing the context. There were large portions of the season I really thought Ferrari would have it in the bag so in that sense MB did have it tougher than in previous hybrid years. All (ppv) eyes will be on Vettel next season. He can't afford to fudge it up again!

    Hoping MV grows up this season. I'm still finding it impossible to like him. Dummy spitter if ever I've seen one.

  • Comment posted by F1Knowledge, at 08:00 9 Dec 2018

    13, Woking?

    Oops!

  • Comment posted by Pedro the legend Diniz, at 01:25 9 Dec 2018

    My feeling is the slight aero changes next year may have a significant effect and it's hard to guess who'll get the jump but then as I won't pay several hundred a year for Sky I won't know. It would have to be truly incredible to get viewing over 1M on PPV and that really isn't numbers but we shall see

  • Comment posted by NeonRacer, at 09:03 9 Dec 2018

    Montezemolo: With Hamilton, Ferrari would have won the title.

    http://f1i.com/news/325710-montezemolo-with-hamilton-ferrari-would-have-won-the-title.html

  • Comment posted by Mr TANG0, at 11:47 9 Dec 2018

    Both 2017 & 2018 were challenging for Merc. Ferrari had a car on a par with Merc in 2017 and acually led the championship for most of the season until Ferrari imploded. And in 2018, Ferrari had an equal car to Merc

  • Comment posted by andyd, at 15:26 9 Dec 2018

    Why as F1 fans are we not able to watch the teams and drivers recieving their awards.we watch all season and they are done in private.if it wasnt for the fans there would be no F1.

  • Comment posted by oobiedoobie, at 09:10 9 Dec 2018

    @10 ~ CTT
    "I'd dare say that Red Bull, more than the other top teams, had the 'most challenging season' as they had to deal with the underpowered Renault"

    RBR were happy to take the credit when winning 4 on the trot, (from team manager to Max) denigrated Renault when things got rough and STILL had first option on the latest Renault tech.
    Hope Honda know what they're going to deal with...

  • Comment posted by Bacaruda, at 08:25 9 Dec 2018

    Fair comment by Wolff, who should also get the lion´s share of the credit. It was difficult to see why MB preferred TW over Ross Brawn 6 years ago, but MB management by TW & NL has delivered 100%, building & running the best car/team for 5 years. Repeat in 2019?

    Excellent man management of LH back to the focused driver who was there in 2007-8 and before. VB unlucky but also the weakest link.

  • Comment posted by un1man, at 10:36 9 Dec 2018

    Its a shame the bigotry and extreme prejudice of many comments can't be filtered out, it dilutes the value of HYS, and not just F1 related either

  • Comment posted by AD , at 14:09 9 Dec 2018

    Tot Wolff seems to be a great manager and good bloke, the Ferarri bloke just seems to scowl and alienate people while the less we say about that egotist at Red bull the better.

  • Comment posted by dennis, at 04:44 9 Dec 2018

    1. For all of you who were respectful enough to give LH the credit where credit is due. Thanks.
    2. Will see you all at Monza next year. I'll have the crying baby LH picture with the crown on his head and a baby rattle made out of a Ferrari.
    3. Mercedes has paid LH a lot of money. Petronas has paid a lot of money as title sponsor. Lewis is under paid!!!

  • Comment posted by foxtrotter, at 12:57 9 Dec 2018

    Good leadership from you as well Toto, as you say it is all about people. Technology doesn't invent itself after all.

  • Comment posted by U16322705, at 08:35 9 Dec 2018

    1. Steve

    ...... Would love to see Ferarri and RB make a decent challenge next season and would happily see LH and Mercedes concede the championship if it’s a good “fight” let’s see if they can rescue F1!
    ===

    Not while F1 hides behind a paywall.

    Unlike football, which is tribal, F1 depends on picking up new fans from casual viewers who luck into it while channel surfing the (FTA) telly.

  • Comment posted by Steve , at 23:41 8 Dec 2018

    Fair play to Mercedes. Ferrari made mistakes they made less. Did LH massively out perform VB or did VB have a bad season either way there #2 driver appeared not to deliver but as a team they still won both titles. Would love to see Ferarri and RB make a decent challenge next season and would happily see LH an Mercedes concede the championship if it’s a good “fight” let’s see if they can rescue F1!

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