 The Mercedes (and their rival Auto Union) cars, which were part of a racing program that was German government subsidized were far faster, better financed, better built, more advanced and more reliable than any of the racing cars he had driven previously.He now had a chance to win Grands Prix and be one of the top drivers in the European Grand Prix championship.Having a solid start to his career with Mercedes in 1937, he excelled in the 1938 season – he won the 1938 German Grand Prix and becoming one of the favourite drivers of Adolf Hitler, and came second in the 1938 Swiss Grand Prix.