At the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg took Mercedes's first pole position and win since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix.[10] Until 2024, this was the last time the team finished behind one of their customer teams in the Constructors' Championship.
Design
The controversial rear wing of the F1 W03
The F1 W03 was introduced at the first race of the season in Melbourne with what was described as a "radical wing concept".[11] Speculation suggested that the wing used the F-duct concept (developed by McLaren in 2010) by blowing air across the surface of the wing to "stall" it, thereby cancelling out all downforce and drag running over the wing and allowing the car to achieve a higher top speed.[12] The system developed by Mercedes was reported to create an F-duct effect over the front wing when the Drag Reduction System (DRS) flap in the rear wing opened. Opening the flap would expose two vents, which channeled air back through the car and over the front wing, cancelling out the downforce generated by the front wing with the intention of increasing stability in high-speed corners.
Controversy
On the Thursday before the Australian Grand Prix, the FIA's technical delegate Charlie Whiting declared the system to be legal.[11] However, shortly before the final practice session on Saturday afternoon, representatives from Red Bull Racing and Lotus F1 approached the race stewards and requested that the FIA review the original verdict, claiming that the front wing system was in violation of Articles 3.15 and 3.18, which govern the use of DRS and driver-operated aerodynamic devices.[13] On the Thursday before the Malaysian Grand Prix, the FIA rejected all claims that the system was illegal, allowing Mercedes to compete with an unaltered car.[14] Three weeks later in China, Lotus F1 filed a formal protest against the system, citing Article 3.15 of the technical regulations — which states that "any device that influences the car's aerodynamics must remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car"[15] — as the basis for their challenge.[16] The stewards later unanimously rejected the protest.[17] They stated that "the sole purpose of the DRS as stated in article 3.18.3, is to improve overtaking. The Mercedes design is completely consistent with this objective"[18] and further clarified that "the protest is dismissed on the grounds that the FIA confirmed the assertion of the Mercedes team that it had, in accordance with Article 2.4 and/or 2.5 of the F1 Technical Regulations, sought clarification from the FIA Formula One Technical Department concerning this matter and the FIA confirmed that the Mercedes design had been deemed permissible", before the start of the season. Lotus later confirmed that they would not appeal against the decision.[19]
The F1 W03 propelled Mercedes to finish fifth in the World Constructors' Championship with 142 points, 23 points adrift from its predecessor. Regardless, it secured three podium finishes and a single victory. Schumacher achieved his last podium finish of his career at the European Grand Prix.
Livery
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, both W03s carried a Schumacher's farewell logo, marking his retirement from the sport.
