Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has highlighted his squad's role in McLaren's title success this year as a “nice” element to its rivals' triumph.
McLaren sealed the constructors' championship for the second successive year while Lando Norris triumphed in the battle for the drivers' title.
The Woking-based squad has been using Mercedes power units since 2021, following failed stints with Honda and Renault.
Mercedes has largely struggled for pace under the regulations that first came into play in 2022, while McLaren has gone from strength to strength en route to title success.
Although the Mercedes team is enduring a title drought, Wolff is holding pride in the German manufacturer's engine playing a part.
“They are deserving world champions,” Wolff told media including RacingNews365. “They've done an outstanding job last year.
“They've done a very good job this year - even if it got close, I'm happy for the team."
“Obviously, having a Mercedes engine there is nice.”
Mercedes ended the season in the runner-up position - albeit a long way off McLaren.
Having endured a disappointing end to the year with a mediocre result in Abu Dhabi, Wolff asserted the pain of a difficult final grand prix vastly outweighs any emotion of having a title-winning power unit.
“Fundamentally the prevailing feeling that I have is, we finished second in the championship, that's respectable,” he said.
“But finishing off with a really mediocre race is just hanging over us."
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