Mercedes’ performance in the recently concluded pre-season testing was quite disappointing. James Vowles, the Chief Strategist at Mercedes claims their performance will improve with the gathered data prior to the first race of the season. Bowles further emphasized how the team had to go through many technical issues in Bahrain.
The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton failed to make his mark on the test and only ranked once in the top five throughout the test sessions. Although his 31-year-old Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas ended at the bottom of the timesheet for most days, his car was the fastest in the circuit on the second day. In that context, both the Silver Arrow drivers claimed they had issues with the stability and the handling of the new Mercedes W12.
The 36-year-old Briton driver mentioned having trouble with the rear of the German car, and the sandstorm made the conditions harder for him. His fellow Mercedes driver Bottas also mentioned the same problem with the rear and also wasted a lot of time in pit stop because of gearbox malfunction on the very first day of the test.
James Vowles reassures having enough time to fix Mercedes W12 prior to Bahrain GP
The German team isn’t worried about their poor performance in the Bahrain test, claiming they will solve them prior to the Bahrain GP. James Vowles also reported gathering a lot of data from the test and they have many days before the main race to improve their German machinery.
The Mercedes’ Chief Strategist acknowledged the Red Bull RB16B, mentioning they came up with a powerful ride eyeing to break the seven-year winning streak of the German camp. However, Vowles added that Red Bull only performed well in the pre-season test and that Silver Arrows might catch up to the Austrian team at the main event.
Max Verstappen finished first in the 2021 Bahrain pre-season test. (Photo by MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images)
Vowles reported to Formula1.com, “ I don’t believe that we’re going to go into this particularly finding all the performance that’s missing or being ahead of them.
“So in short, I think we’re going to have a close championship this year.”
The 2021 season of Formula One will begin on Sunday, March 28, we can expect the past year’s winners to be back in form with improved cars giving the Milton Keynes-based outfit a run for their money.
