Wolff: No room for complacency, as Mercedes celebrates F1 title
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport chief Toto Wolff has warned there is no room for complacency if it is to repeat its manufacturers’ Formula 1 World Championship crown again next year.
Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Toto Wolff and company celebrate the 2015 Constructors Title
Mercedes AMG
Mercedes claimed the 2015 title at the Russian Grand Prix at Sochi on Sunday, following 12 wins, 29 podium finishes, 14 pole positions and 9 fastest laps from 15 races so far this year.
To mark this achievement, race drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg joined the team's senior management at its sites at Brixworth and Brackley in the United Kingdom.
“Today, we must all take a minute and think about the words 'World Champion',” said Wolff. “For this year, we can say we were the best in the world and that is something very special indeed.
"But none of us is complacent enough to think that this earns us anything for the future. If we want to call ourselves champions again, we will have to work even harder and even better for 2016.
“Congratulations to the whole team. We've done it one more time and this championship unites everybody together – the drivers and the team in Brixworth and Brackley. The titles that everybody talks about are the individual ones for the drivers, but this time both Nico and Lewis are winners.
“Yesterday, we let Nico down [with his throttle pedal failure], but he has been such a fundamental part of the team from the beginning, he has helped make the team what it is and this is his championship as well. Lewis is riding the crest of the wave and having an incredible season.
“We owe them both so much. In our sport, we tend to move on very quickly and concentrate on the next weekend and challenge.”
Lowe: back-to-back titles “a dream”
The team’s Executive Director (Technical) Paddy Lowe, echoed his sentiments as he celebrated the title.
“To celebrate back-to-back world championships is something that most of us can only dream of," said Lowe. "In this business, it's not enough simply to work hard – you have to work smart, too.
“It doesn't happen overnight, or in a couple of years, but has been built up over a great deal of time thanks to the commitment from Mercedes-Benz. And it's a result of the integration of effort and intellect between the teams in Brixworth and Brackley, to deliver the best power unit in the best racing car on the grid.
“Everybody had the same opportunity to perform under the regulations – and each of you has earned the right to celebrate today. I would also like to thank Nico and Lewis for their great skill and also their great professionalism out on track every day.
“It's so easy to take for granted but we are privileged to work with two of the very best. Let's celebrate the moment – and then get back to work to make sure we can win again.”
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