Silver Arrows Through Time: The Rise, Fall, and Dominance of Mercedes in Formula One

This article is about the F1 team Mercedes who were runners-up in the Drivers' Championships last year.

(Image credits to wallpapercave.com)

Introduction

The story behind Mercedes as a Formula 1 team is one built on excellence and pride. The team first started their F1 journey in 1954 with an unforgettable win by Juan Manuel at the French Grand Prix. Shortly following this win, the team went on to become 2x Championship winners in 1954 and 1955.

The Teams Return as a Powerhouse

Mercedes became an engine supplier back in 1994 when they partnered up with Limor, who had been powering top teams like McLaren. This brand new era had helped Mercedes win the Drivers Championship win Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and 1999 and then with Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

The Modern Mercedes 

The main turning point for Mercedes came in 2014 when the FIA introduced Turbo-Hybrid Engines. Their dominance after this period highlighted their ability to master these new regulations in their car development. 

Since 2014, Mercedes has: 

• Won 8 Constructors' Championships between 2014 & 2021

• Won 7 Consecutive Drivers' Championships between 2014 & 2020

Mercedes with their recent seasons

From 2022, the team struggled with the performance of their W13. Regardless of slight improvement, Mercedes no longer held the current title of being the strongest team in Formula 1 with Red Bull dominating the championship with Max Verstappen. Along with this, Mercedes departed with their long-time driver Lewis Hamilton who joined Ferrari.

Following this, the team signed young talent Kimi Antonelli to race along side expereinced George Russell. In the 2026 season, follow a new set of regulation changes, Mercedes have hit the ground running and returned to their competitive days with both of their drivers leading the Championships.

Article written by Elsie Nash © Elsie Nash 2026