Ralf Schumacher thinks it will be challenging for Mercedes to reach the top positions on the grid due to their lackluster speed. Toto Wolff and Ralf Schumacher (via imago)
The long-awaited moment has arrived for Formula 1 fans as they eagerly await the upcoming season’s excitement. In just a few days, the circus will head to Bahrain for the thrilling season opener in the Middle East. The test sessions have already begun, giving fans a glimpse of what the next few months will look like for most teams, and it seems like a slow start.
During the first day of test sessions in Bahrain, Red Bull’s RB20, which was rumored to be based on last year’s Mercedes W14 model, impressed everyone. Max Verstappen himself expressed positivity, stating that the racecar was comfortable for him. This has led his competitors, including Mercedes, to anticipate that Verstappen will dominate the majority of the Grand Prix races this year, just as he did in 2023.
After two disappointing seasons with underwhelming results, Mercedes was rumored to be taking a new approach to regain their winning ways. They introduced a unique pair of front wings that caught everyone’s attention. However, the team has failed to top any of the practice sessions in Bahrain and still lags behind Red Bull and Verstappen. Ralf Schumacher expressed his disappointment with the German manufacturer’s performance.
In other news, Lewis Hamilton will retire from the Mercedes Brackley garage after the upcoming season and join Scuderia Ferrari. The announcement of his newly-signed contract has sparked discussions about the true reason behind Hamilton’s move. Some argue that it is the large sum of money offered by Ferrari, while others claim it is because Mercedes was unwilling to offer the 39-year-old a multi-year contract. Ralf Schumacher believes it is due to Mercedes’ lack of promising performance.
Hamilton himself revealed in a personal statement following the news of his Ferrari transfer that he has always dreamt of racing for the prestigious team from Maranello. As Hamilton embarks on a new chapter with Ferrari, it remains to be seen if he can secure an eighth World Championship title with his new team.