The 2022 Formula 1 season was disappointing for the Mercedes team, which was used to success. Only third place in the constructors’ championship behind Red Bull and Ferrari and in the fight for the driver’s crown, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had no chance.
This year, the Silver Arrows want to be fully involved again. Crown Prince Russell is confident that this will succeed – and Red Bull fears Mercedes even more than Ferrari.
Russell sees silver as a title contender again
Russell firmly expects Mercedes to have a serious say in the title fight next season. The speed with which the Silver Arrows developed their car in 2022 gives him “every hope that we can fight for the world championship this year,” said Russell at “motorsport.com”.
When designing the new W14, Mercedes set itself “rather clear” targets, according to the Brit. “If we can achieve that, I am very confident that we will have a car that can compete with Red Bull.”
Russell has every confidence in Mercedes
Russell noted that Mercedes qualified “behind Alfa and behind Haas” at the start of the preseason. “I remember that I had the same pace in Imola as Lando (Norris in the McLaren, editor’s note) and Valtteri (Bottas) chased me,” the 24-year-old looked back. In the course of the season, however, Mercedes made “massive” progress. “The fact that we’re now able to fight for wins says a lot. So I have complete confidence in our team.”
He can have it too, after all Russell not only won the sprint at the penultimate GP weekend in Brazil in 2022, but also his first Grand Prix on Sunday.
Marko: Mercedes Red Bull opponent No. 1
The world champion racing team also assumes that Mercedes will be back to music in 2023. Red Bull should fear Mercedes more than Ferrari, said team advisor Helmut Marko. “Mainly because they have advantages over Ferrari in terms of strategy and reliability.”
While the Ferrari engine flared up several times last season, the Mercedes unit usually purred like a kitten – even if it wasn’t the fastest.