Mercedes’ Returnee James Allison Warns Lewis Hamilton & George Russell of the Steep Slope Ahead While Giving Shrewd Verdict on W-14

The entire Formula 1 community had gotten used to the domination Mercedes decided to serve during the turbo-hybrid era of the sport. Naturally, once Red Bull arrived and took over the mantle from the Silver Arrows, things don’t quite feel the same again. Don’t get us wrong here, though, it isn’t as though Mercedes have fallen so far back that they can’t catch the Bulls. However, the performance differential is quite vast from what we were used to.

Hence, it becomes very important to put things into perspective. In actuality, the Silver Arrows are just a few right design steps away from getting right back up there. But for the team and the fans alike, their dropping the ball will always distort the reality of the whole situation. Thus, the question that beckons us is; is the W14 really as bad as it is being portrayed?

Mercedes’ true potential exposed

A lot has come from within Brackley about the situation Mercedes finds itself in. But behind the scenes, it would appear that the boys and girls back at base in Brackley should actually be very proud of what they have achieved over the winter break.

On a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, host Tom Clarkson was joined by Mercedes technical director James Allison who returns to the team after a two-year long hiatus. When Allison was asked about the strengths and weaknesses of their 2023 challenger, he was more than forthcoming. He began, “It’s reliable, touch wood! That’s a definite strength.”

“It’s got a quick pair of punters, pedaling it around. You know, it’s better than most of the grid out there but it not the quickest one so it will feel like a weak car to all of us. It’s adequately kind to its tires but not as good as some of the cars that we’ve made in the past. It’s got more downforce than most of the cars on the grid but not sufficient. But none of this stuff is revelatory,” added Allison.

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But while they may have a solid car under them currently, their eyes are set firmly on being the best once again.

Insider tips Mercedes to be winning again soon

The media always has a lot to say. Mercedes have been tipped to make a sensational comeback on many occasions. However, a true test of their intentions and their upcoming fortunes is the word of their driver, George Russell.

Russell wants to win, but he knows there’s hard work ahead. He told Formula1.com, “I mean, I don’t read what’s been said in the news all the time, but you know, we’re here to win, we’re here to fight for victories and for the championship, and clearly we’re not in a position to do that at the moment.”

But as per Russell, the moment of truth is closer than you think. “But big changes are incoming… Naturally you can’t get things brought that quickly to the car, but I think in due course, we’ll see some big changes and hopefully the lap times represent that.”

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With Mercedes teasing big upgrades in the upcoming races, how long will it take for the Silver Arrows to snatch their throne back from the Bulls?