The difficulty is exacerbated as both McLaren and Ferrari have shown progress, narrowing the gap even further with Red Bull.
Former technical leader of Mercedes, Paddy Lowe, warned Toto Wolff about the challenges Mercedes will face in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
After a disappointing start, Lowe noted that the situation for Mercedes could potentially worsen.
This comes after the team, which has won the championship eight times, failed to meet expectations in the early races, leaving them significantly behind their competitors.
As the 2024 season progressed in its first six races, Mercedes only managed to secure 64 points, putting them at a clear disadvantage compared to Red Bull, who leads with 239 points.
Ferrari and McLaren are close behind, with 187 and 124 points, respectively.
This difference highlights the difficulties faced by Mercedes, positioning them closer to fifth-placed Aston Martin and even sixth-placed VCARB than the leading trio.
Lowe, in his interview with Motorsport.com, stated: “You may or may not get to that point. It could get worse.
“This is the nature of the sport and why it is so captivating to watch as champions rise and fall.”
His reflections shed light on the cyclical nature of competitive sports, where dominant teams emerge and decline, noting how in 1992, Williams overtook the then-dominant McLaren in a surprising turnaround.
The difficulty is exacerbated as both McLaren and Ferrari have shown improvements, narrowing the gap even further with Red Bull.
For Mercedes, their current position complicates their future strategies and marketing, especially in attracting top drivers like Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, whose contract extends until 2025, has indicated his willingness to change teams, but only to one that increases his chances of winning.
Still facing the cut, Christian Horner’s #RedBull while the #FIA intervenes.
This situation jeopardizes Mercedes’ aspirations to hire Verstappen, seen as an ideal successor to Lewis Hamilton, who is heading to Ferrari.
Wolff’s strategy relies on rebuilding or significantly improving performance to make a convincing case for top talents like Verstappen.
However, as the season unfolds, the opportunity to make crucial changes diminishes, emphasizing Lowe’s caution that, for Mercedes, the road ahead may become more challenging.
© 2024
