Merc will only luck into a podium, and even that would be a stretch. They will not get one on merit, unless it rains or some equally weird occurrence. To back up my belief:
2 hours ago
By Matt Beer
Mercedes is one second off the pace of its main Formula 1 rivals on the long-run pace at the Bahrain Grand Prix and in the same territory as Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri, reckons George Russell.
After a difficult pre-season testing period in which it was held back in particular by porpoising problems, Mercedes remained adrift of the frontrunners in Friday practice at Sakhir.
While Lewis Hamilton was only eighth fastest in the second session having twice run wide at Turn 1 on qualifying simulation laps, his new team-mate Russell at least managed fourth place.
But he said even that time, six tenths of a second off pacesetter Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and the Ferrari of nearest rival Charles Leclerc, was deceptive.
“I don’t think you can read too much into that one lap,” said Russell.
“I think the high fuel pace is a bit more representative and we were consistently over a second slower than where our rivals are.”
Though Russell felt Mercedes had made some progress with resolving its problems, he admitted that wasn’t yet translating into pace.
He suggested it was under pressure from midfielders like AlphaTauri – which had led practice one with Pierre Gasly, albeit on softer tyres than the leading teams – and Alfa Romeo, where the man he replaced at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas, was sixth in practice two.
“It’s all about laptime and we’re certainly not where we want to be,” said Russell.
“I think we’ve made a bit of progress solving some issues, but the pace is not there.
“We’re both struggling a bit with the car. And we’re a long way off the pace of Red Bull, Ferrari, even the likes of AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo are seemingly on our pace or even quicker. Got a bit of work to do.”
Hamilton said Mercedes was “faced with much, much bigger problems this year” compared to early-season struggles in other seasons and “everything we do to try and kind of fix doesn’t really change that”.
He added: “It appears that it is probably going to be a more longer term fix, so nothing in the short term.”
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Posted on
18th March 2022, 17:20 | Written by
Will Wood
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes’ practice pace proves the team were not bluffing about the problems they are having with their W13.
The seven-times world champion ended second practice in ninth place, 1.2 seconds off
Max Verstappen. Hamilton had to contend with glazed brakes and a DRS fault, but team mate George Russell was still almost six tenths of a second away from Verstappen, and slower than both Ferraris.
This morning Verstappen ridiculed Mercedes’ claims they are not in competitive shape for the start of the season. But Hamilton said their practice pace showed they had been sincere about their problems.
“I told you in the last week we’re not going to be in the race for a win here,” he said. “If you look at the Red Bull they’re a long, long way ahead. It’s in the region of eight to nine tenths ahead of us and Ferrari something like half a second, six tenths ahead of us. So we’re fighting and scrapping with whoever’s behind them.”
A “longer term” fix is needed for the car’s lack of pace, he said. “We’ve had small problems in the past, relatively. Compared to this year, we’ve had much, much smaller problems.
“We’re faced with much, much bigger problems this year. Everything we do to try and kind of fix it, doesn’t really change that. It appears that it’s probably going to be a more longer-term fix. Nothing in the short term.”
Russell echoed Hamilton’s words, saying Mercedes are “a long way off” their biggest rivals. He suggested the team may even have fallen behind Alfa Romeo – who his predecessor
Valtteri Bottas has joined – and AlphaTauri.
“I think it’s clear it’s all about lap time and we’re certainly not where we want to be,” said Russell.” I think we’ve made a bit of progress solving some issues, but the pace is just not there at all at the moment. So we need to really go over the data tonight to understand.
“We’re both struggling a bit with the car and we’re a long way off the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari. Even the likes of AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo are seemingly on our pace or even quicker. So we’ve got a bit of work to do.”
Despite his best lap time being good enough for fourth, Russell believes Mercedes’ deficit is more apparent during longer runs.
“That’s one lap – I don’t think you can read too much into that one lap,” Russell said.
“I think the high fuel pace is a bit more representative. And we were consistently over a second slower than where our rivals are, so I know I need to look into the data a bit further. Maybe there’s a reason for it. But from our side, we’re definitely not overly happy with the car right now and we’ve got some work to do.”
