Photo: 1954 Mercedes W196 F1 car at a motor show, Buenos Aires. © Murgatroyd49, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: 1954 Mercedes W196 F1 car at a motor show, Buenos Aires. © Murgatroyd49, CC BY-SA 4.0 Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Mercedes in 1954 comeback to motorsport after 14 years of absence…
Mercedes-Benz made one of the most remarkable comebacks in motorsport history.
The W196, from the very first race, it was clear that this was not a simple return, it was a statement of dominance.
However, in the past we have seen in F1, when a team comes up with something new, and then dominates for years, like the Ford with their Cosworth engines from 1968 until 1982.
Mercedes 1954-1955 in Formula 1
But the story of Mercedes in the mid-50s is something that will go down in history as the most dominant team in history of F1.
Debut at the 1954 French GP
The W196 arrived at the French GP in 1954, and they immediately showed the world they meant business.
Juan Manuel Fangio, the legendary driver and Karl Kling drove the new car to a stunning one-two finish.
It was a debut that shook rival teams to their core, the W196 was unlike anything on the track before, its 2.5-liter straight-eight engine used direct fuel injection, a tech adapted from planes, giving it a responsiveness and efficiency that others could only dream of.
The engine also employed desmodromic valves, a mechanical system that controlled both the opening and closing of the valves, allowing the car to safely reach higher speeds.
With a lightweight chassis crafted from magnesium-alloy panels and inboard drum brakes to reduce unsprung weight, the W196 was a masterpiece. W196 still the most valuable Formula 1 car ever sold.
Alfred Neubauer and Race Strategy
Mercedes’ brilliance was not limited to the car itself, Alfred Neubauer, the team manager, orchestrated everything around the team.
He carefully considered every aspect of preparation, from testing and tire selection to driver pairings.
Neubauer knew that a superior car would only be as good as the strategy guiding it, by 1955, he had added a young British talent, Stirling Moss, to the lineup, pairing him with Fangio to create an almost unstoppable combination on the grid.
Dominance in F1 for two years
The W196’s dominance in 1954 and 1955 was breathtaking, in 1954, Fangio swept through the French, German, Swiss, and Italian GP.
By the next season in 1955, the team entered seven races and won five, again Fangio dominated the season by winning four races that season.
Stirling Moss made history, winning his home Grand Prix in 1955, becoming the first British driver to win the British GP in front of his fans.
Over two seasons, Mercedes claimed nine wins, that is 75% success rate that cemented their place as the most dominant team of the era.
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W196: Two Designs for Two Purposes
What made Mercedes unbeatable was the W196’s, the team ran two distinct versions of the car.
The streamliner, or Type Monza, was an enclosed, aerodynamic car designed for high-speed circuits with long straight.
This version achieved three victories and remains the only closed-wheel car ever to win a F1 race.
For twistier, more demanding tracks such as the Nurburgring, Mercedes used the open-wheel Monosposto variant, a design that handled corners with far greater precision.
This dual approach allowed the team to exploit the strength of every track on the calendar, keeping competitors constantly on the back foot.
Fangio and Moss: A Legendary Driver Pairing
To win in F1, you also need to have great driver, Fangio, who was one of the best in the 50s, with Stirling Moss the rising star, made Mercedes dominance much easier.
The most interesting race came at the 1955 British Grand Prix, where Moss claimed victory after an intense battle with Fangio. It was a special event for Mercedes, highlighted by multiple dominant finishes, including a remarkable 1-2-3-4 sweep at the race.
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Why Mercedes quit F1 in 1955?
Mercedes dominated F1 and expected to continue their success for years to come, but their competitive journey was interrupted by a profound event.
The 1955 season was significantly affected by a serious incident during the Le Mans race, involving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR driven by Pierre Levegh.
At the end of the season, Mercedes made the difficult decision to withdraw from all motorsport activities for decades, prioritizing safety and corporate responsibility over the immediate pursuit of racing glory.
Mercedes W196 and the end of story
Despite its brevity, Mercedes two-years of dominance left a mark, the W196 was expected to dominate for decades.
From advanced aero and lightweight materials to sophisticated fuel and valve systems, showed the world that could be achieved when engineering brilliance was combined with tactical acumen and exceptional driver talent.
Mercedes entering F1 was a fleeting yet unforgettable chapter.
Even today, the W196’s car continue to inspire engineers, drivers, and fans, preserving the aura of the most dominant team of its era.
