Mercedes has put in significant effort during the winter break to potentially match Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the upcoming Formula 1 season. The dominance of Mercedes in the Turbo-hybrid era was challenged at the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, where they were defeated. Since then, Verstappen and Red Bull have continued to outperform their rivals. Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, expressed caution about catching up with Red Bull and acknowledged that there are no miracles in F1 that could guarantee victory. However, he remains determined to outperform the reigning world champions this season.
Wolff admitted that he cannot predict when Mercedes will be able to match Verstappen and Red Bull. The team will have a better understanding of their pace compared to Red Bull during pre-season testing in Bahrain this month. However, the true pecking order will only be revealed at the season opener.
Max Verstappen had an exceptional season in 2023, securing his third consecutive world title. He is eager to win another championship with Red Bull in the upcoming season. Verstappen’s desire to claim a fourth F1 title is strong, especially with Red Bull’s anticipated advantage in pace thanks to the RB-20 designed by Adrian Newey. However, he can expect tough competition from rivals like Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Although Mercedes has made extensive improvements to the W15 during the winter break, Hamilton remains the favorite for the season opener in Bahrain. Fans eagerly await the outcome of Verstappen’s performance this year.
According to the Source firstsportz.com