The Sauber-Mercedes cars were enhanced both technically and visually for the 1989 season. A new V8 biturbo engine with four-valve technology boasted a peak output of 925 hp. And the silver-coloured paintwork sent out an unmistakable signal that Mercedes-Benz was back on the track. In keeping with their heritage, the new Silver Arrows won 16 out of 18 races in 1989 and 1990, including the Le Mans 24-Hour Race (Mass/Reuter/Dickens) in 1989.
In 1990, the Mercedes C11 models, as they were now called, clinched the runner-up title. It was the year in which the Mercedes-Benz Junior Team was founded, featuring drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Karl Wendlinger.
The regulations were changed in 1991: supercharged engines were no longer permitted and engine displacement was limited to 3.5 litres. The new Mercedes-Benz C 291 powered by a V12 engine was built in compliance with these regulations. Plagued by technical problems, the C 291 won only a single race – the last race of the season in Japan. The winning drivers were Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger.