Mercedes will win an F1 grand prix this season, it has been predicted, regardless of the “ceiling” they are going to hit.
The development of the struggling crew has been eye-opening, with consecutive podium finishes for George Russell then Lewis Hamilton.
This weekend’s F1 Austrian Grand Prix, earlier than Silverstone every week later, gives extra alternative to shut the hole to the entrance.
“One other third and fourth following Canada,” Sky Sports activities’ Karun Chandhok mentioned after the F1 Spanish Grand Prix final weekend.
“It was a strong race. They’re clearly nonetheless behind McLaren, a tenth-and-a-half per lap.
“It’s nearer than they have been firstly of the season. They’re on a journey.
“I’ll have an interest if – we’ve received two extra races coming thick and quick – if they’ll optimise the set-up to unlock extra velocity.
“They’re much nearer than they have been. They’re not fairly there with Lando and Max.”
Damon Hill assessed Mercedes’ enchancment: “It’s like their ft haven’t touched the bottom. They’ve had nothing to seize onto, no basis.
“Now they’ve received this entrance wing. They’ve received confidence once more in what they’re doing.
“‘If that’s proper, we will do that, this and this…’
“They’re undoubtedly encroaching.”
Wind tunnel time to restrict Mercedes?
Nevertheless, Hill identified a attainable future drawback.
“Don’t overlook they completed second within the constructors’ final yr in order that they’ve received a ceiling that they’ll hit sooner than McLaren,” he mentioned.
Ending greater within the constructors’ standings final season means Mercedes will obtain much less wind tunnel time this yr than rivals McLaren and Ferrari.
Nevertheless, optimism surrounds Toto Wolff’s crew.
“The tides are shifting,” Danica Patrick mentioned.
“I believe Mercedes had a reasonably good execution of a weekend. George might have been third if he’d taken softs, the hards didn’t look good in any respect.
“They’ve rather a lot to be pleased about.
“Toto is feeling the load off, charged up by the end, like ‘we are going to go and get extra!’”
Hill added: “Till just lately, we have been considering Adrian Newey would go to Ferrari, Lewis goes to Ferrari, and Ferrari have been on the up.
“Abruptly this doubt has been thrown in about Adrian going to Ferrari. It doesn’t look such an interesting prospect.”
However Karun Chandhok warned that Ferrari won’t let Mercedes persistently outperform them with out a battle.
“Let’s preserve perspective,” Chandhok mentioned. “Leclerc, with one other lap, would have handed George. He wasn’t far behind Lewis and his race was compromised within the first stint.”
Will Hamilton be having second-thoughts about becoming a member of Ferrari in 2025 if Mercedes proceed to complete forward of them?
Chandhok answered: “Does Lewis remorse it? They have been three hundredths completely different in qualifying and so they have been there within the race.
“I believe Mercedes can win a race this yr.”
Hill insisted: “[Hamilton] thinks ‘sport on’ once more. He can rub wheels with Lando and Max.”
Mercedes haven’t received an F1 grand prix since late-2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, through Russell.
Hamilton has not been victorious since 2021.
