Mercedes and Ferrari have already started to consider the 2024 Formula 1 season, realising that their chances of success in 2023 are slim.
Red Bull has won 10 out of 10 races in 2023 with Max Verstappen claiming eight of them, including the last six. The Dutchman leads the drivers’ standings by 99 points and has more points on his own than Mercedes – second in the constructors‘ – do across both drivers.
While there is still a mathematical chance of catching the reigning champions, Mercedes and Ferrari know that they have to switch their attention to 2024 to try and close the gap for the new campaign.
“In all the races that come, learn and develop, making sure that we can continue this work next year,” Toto Wolff told select members of the press, including Total-Motorsport.com.
“The regulation will be the same next season. So it’s not like we’re not going to learn anything by continuing with this car this season. We have to find a balance.
“Finishing second or third has no impact on me or the team. The important thing is to come back and win a world title. It will not be the case this year. We already have to look at next year.”
Cost cap limitations
Frederic Vasseur also pointed out that the cost cap can limit the amount of money spent on each upgrade so focusing more resources on 2024 could be beneficial in the long run.
“The biggest determining factor at the moment is the spending limit,” Vasseur said. “For that reason, you can’t create a completely new project within the same season.
“It could have been done a few years ago, but now thinking about that possibility is already impossible. We have to adapt the project that already exists and I truly believe that we have taken important steps so far this year.
“I can say that we are already working and focused on next year’s project as a team, and we are working hard to make great progress.”
Where is the next F1 2023 race?
With the F1 circus finished at Silverstone, we move on to the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix which will be held at the Hungaroring, Budapest over the weekend of July 21-23.
