Wolff dedicates sixth straight title to Lauda

Toto Wolff has dedicatedMercedes’record-breaking sixth consecutive Constructors’ Championship to late friend and colleague Niki Lauda.

The German team secured the title in Japan withValtteri Bottaswinning the race andLewis Hamiltonfinishing in P3 and picking up the bonus point for fastest lap.

Before passing away in May, Lauda had served as non-executive chairman since the team’s return to the sport.

“We want to dedicate this to Niki because he’s just been such an important part from the beginning of the journey,” Wolff said via Sky Sports.

“His sheer presence was always so important and the mixture between support and pressure, he was just a very special person.

“When we embarked on the journey six or seven years ago we wanted to win races more regularly and then fight for a championship. And then six years later it’s the sixth championship in a row.”

The Silver Arrows have now equaled the record of six consecutive Constructors’ Championships set by Ferrari in 2004, and will also become the first team ever to win six consecutive Championship doubles.

Team principal Wolff says that their dominance brings increased expectations and pressure for the team.

“The pressure’s enormous because you can say ‘ok you’re fighting at the front’ but the truth is you’re setting your own bar very high and your own expectations and then not meeting those expectations is extremely painful,” Wolff added.

“You get used to it, and that’s something we are tackling. In the end, we are learning from our painful experiences.

“This team has become so strong I think, because we have really been able to stand up when it didn’t go well – like this morning [in qualifying] – and that is something we need to continue to work on.”

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