The pace shown by the top two teams in F1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix season opener left Mercedes in no doubt that its shape was hit by new rules introduced this year.
In particular, it believes changes to the ground aimed at reducing downforce have harmed lowrake cars like its own and Aston Martin a lot more than high-rake models like Red Bull.
Aston Martin even went so far as to suggest the rule changes that its car lost one second per performance lap compared to high-rake competitors.
Sky Sports F1 expert Brundle isn’t convinced that the rake issue offers the full explanation for Mercedes’ obvious pace battles.
He is confident that despite their early struggles with the W12, the Brackley squad will “bring it all together” as he still believes Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton are the team / driver combo to beat.
“I think the arithmetic thing is a bit distracting and I think the Mercedes is not really working that well at the moment,” Brundle told Autosport.
“Red Bull and Honda work particularly well, as do some other cars.
“The regulations mean you can’t just do new upgrades every week like they may have done in the past, but Mercedes will bring it together.
“[Lewis] Hamilton and Mercedes are still the combination to beat for the world championship. “
The cars of Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, 1st place, and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, 3rd place, in Parc Ferme
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
With a view to the race in Imola next weekend, Brundle predicts another highly competitive competition between Mercedes and Red Bull.
The ex-F1 driver who became a respected broadcaster said that Hamilton’s victory in Bahrain proved that Mercedes is not to be underestimated, even on its hindfoot.
“It depends on what you do with your car in between,” added Brundle when asked if Mercedes would have a tougher fight against Red Bull at Imola.
“It is obviously more limited what you can change now anyway.
“I wouldn’t underestimate Mercedes. I mean, everyone is talking about rake and how it damaged Mercedes and with it Aston Martin, but if I’m not mistaken, a Mercedes won the race in Bahrain with Red Bull dominating the last race [in Abu Dhabi] last year.
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“I think it will be very close, they will sort out the Mercedes.
“Hamilton was absolutely great in Bahrain and for me he won the race just as anyone else lost it or every team lost it.
“I really don’t know who will be the best at Imola and that’s the wonderful thing about live sports.”
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