Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff has jokingly admitted that his decision to sign a long-term engine supply deal with McLaren back in 2023 may not have been his wisest move – now that the former backmarkers have emerged as the dominant force on the grid.
When Mercedes sealed its agreement to supply McLaren with power units until 2030, the move appeared straightforward as Team Papaya was a far cry from the front running outfit it has become.
For Wolff, seeing the former midfield contender now outshine the Silver Arrows is an unexpected twist.
“Look at where they were three, four years ago, when we signed the deal with them that they were going to use our fast engines for the next few years,” Wolff told Sky Italia.
“Then they were 18th and it was easy to make such a decision.”
While McLaren has surged ahead – capturing the Constructors' Championship in 2024 and continuing its dominant run in 2025 – the works Mercedes team remains adrift, 250 points behind its leading rival in the standings.
“With the knowledge of today, I don’t know if it was the most intelligent choice in my life to make that deal with them, haha,” he quipped.
Same Engines, Different Outcomes
Mercedes has been plagued by inconsistencies in performance under the current ground effect regulations – excelling at certain circuits and plummeting at others.
The typically narrow operational window of its latest designs, including this year’s W16, has contrasted sharply with McLaren’s ability to extract pace across all track types and temperatures.
“In Montreal we did well with cooler temperatures, but in Austria we’ve known for years that McLaren has it best,” Wolff said.
“Mercedes can fight for victory at one circuit, while falling more than a minute behind the next weekend.”
That unpredictability continues to frustrate the Silver Arrows’ camp. While McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have gone from strength to strength this season, raking in an aggregate nine wins in 2025, Mercedes has struggled to sustain any consistent momentum.
“It remains bizarre how big the difference is between performances on different circuits and under different conditions with these ground effect cars,” Wolff emphasized.
“We won in Montreal but finished a minute behind in Austria, which is unacceptable for a team and brand like us.”
A Bitterly Funny Irony
While Wolff's comments are clearly laced with dry humour, they also point to a deeper truth: McLaren has turned the tables on its supplier.
Once seen as the humble customer team in need of a boost, McLaren is now flying the flag for Mercedes power – while the factory team fights to rediscover its identity in Formula 1’s new era.
Wolff’s wry tone may have drawn laughter, but the competitive gap on track is no joke. As McLaren races toward another championship, Mercedes will be left to ponder how its “easy” decision has evolved into one of the more ironic plot twists of the modern F1 paddock.
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