Five-year contract with INEOS: Will we see Mercedes for years in Formula 1?

Rumours about departure

For a moment it seemed that Mercedes would leave Formula 1. Several sources have already reported that the investments in the Mercedes plant already showed enough about the team's plans for the future, but rumours surfaced. However, the management decided differently and Toto Wolff already announced that Mercedes will be in F1 in 2021 at least. 

Mercedes will, therefore, have to make a large investment to be competitive with the new cars in 2021, so the cooperation with INEOS is not surprising. Few teams put a lot of money into a new car in the past and then pulled the plug out of the project (Toyota and BMW did this in 2009).

Mercedes policy

However, Mercedes does not seem to be a team investing in projects just like that, so it makes sense that the team enters into a new five-year partnership. The Mercedes top did not want to confirm this immediately, but Wolff clearly showed that the intention of both parties is to continue with F1. 

The future does not seem completely coloured, but a five-year deal shows the confidence of the F1 top at Mercedes. The team has been active in F1 for years. It came well prepared in the sport and in 2010 was directly in the middle bracket/best of the rest. With the acquisition of Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton, additional investment was made and rewarded with the world title in 2014.

What is known about the future?

Toto Wolff has not yet commented on his own future and Lewis has also not been confirmed for a seat in 2021. Wolff is in the interest of the Formula 1 leadership and Hamilton might consider a switch to Ferrari.

With Hamilton, Mercedes has one of the best drivers in the short term, but with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen , Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have a long-term future. A situation that Mercedes can only dream of with a 35-year-old driver for the time being. Hamilton is still the best, but how long can the Brit still reach this level?

At least there seems to be no plan for afterwards. Esteban Ocon has left for Renault for two years and George Russell has not experienced much with Williams. 

The two biggest talents from the Mercedes stable are therefore not yet of the level that Mercedes is hoping for. With that situation in mind, it is not surprising that Mercedes does not want to plan too far ahead.

This article originally appeared on GPblog.com/nl. Written by Tim Kraaij