Mercedes experienced a difficult test program in the preseason when the team struggled with the rear-end instability of its new W12 car after the downforce reductions introduced for 2021.
Although Mercedes stayed on its hindfoot for over a lap in Bahrain and lost to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the battle for pole position, it did much better over the long stints in the race.
Hamilton was able to beat Verstappen in a close battle for victory after Verstappen was forced to give up the lead after overtaking his rival off the track with four laps to go.
However, the race reminded Mercedes of the stern challenge Red Bull faces in 2021 as the German team is looking for an eighth consecutive World Championship.
As Hamilton contemplated his race win in Bahrain, he admitted that Mercedes was fortunate enough to beat Red Bull thanks to Verstappen’s off-track move and that it had to do better in the races to come.
“I’m pretty sure we have to do better,” said Hamilton. “We have to be smarter and how we navigate our weekends because we don’t have the fastest car
the moment.
“But that’s all good for me. I don’t mind having to pull extra out to make the difference.”
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Mercedes has won every world title since the beginning of the V6 hybrid era in 2014. The biggest challenges come from Ferrari in 2017 and 2018.
Hamilton and team-mate Bottas have taken first and second place in the drivers’ championship for the past two years. This is a sign of Mercedes’ advantage over the rest of the grid.
However, the downforce reductions introduced for 2021 have done more harm to teams that operate a low-rake vehicle concept such as Mercedes and Aston Martin than teams with high-rake vehicles.
Bottas finished third in Bahrain, 37 seconds behind Hamilton and Verstappen after a late pit stop, but struggled with the leading duo throughout the race.
The Finn agreed with Hamilton’s assessment that Mercedes is currently lagging behind Red Bull for sheer performance, saying the W12 car’s pace “needs to be even better”.
“Red Bull seemed to be very quick and I’m looking forward to seeing the final lap between Max and Lewis again,” said Bottas.
“We don’t have the fastest car right now, we have to be perfect in every other area.
“But of course we also want the fastest car, so we have to keep working.”
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