Mercedes distracted by lack of team stability

After Red Bull clinched its fourth Formula 1 victory in a row at the Styrian Grand Prix in order to extend its lead in the championships, Mercedes is faced with the challenge of improving its car in order not to lose the championship out of its hands.

But while the significant strides Red Bull is making with its RB16B car were important in allowing Max Verstappen to build on his lead, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes other factors also play a role.

He believes that the stability Red Bull has had in serving its leaders through thick and thin has been instrumental in keeping the team stronger over time.

He suggests this is in contrast to Mercedes, where engine chief Andy Cowell and technical director James Allison resigned last year and lead driver Lewis Hamilton’s contract signing is facing major delays.

When asked for his opinion on the battle between Red Bull and Mercedes after the Styrian Grand Prix, Binotto said: “Before you look at the technical aspects, and you have to acknowledge that Red Bull did a great job, I think it’s right is to be pointed out. ” found that they achieve excellent results because they can count on a team that has been stable for many years.

“Even though they struggled, even though they didn’t win, they continued to build a group to improve their car. And what we see now is the result of that work.

“If we look at Mercedes, on the other hand, there were significant internal changes last year, with perhaps revised roles. In addition, the signature with the driver, which only arrived in February.

“I think they are signs of a distraction that led to the current situation.”

Mattia Binotto, team principal, Ferrari

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Binotto did not make a direct comparison with Ferrari’s situation, but he has long known that Ferrari can best move forward in the long term if you give the current structure time to show what it can do.

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Binotto also does not endorse Mercedes’ views that Red Bull’s gain in speed on the straight was aided by a step forward in engine performance.

He points out that due to reliability issues, Red Bull partner Honda may have been forced to shut down its engine in the first few runs of the season and has only now achieved its full power, which it was able to show at limited times earlier in the campaign.

“I do not share [the view] from what I hear and read because the performance of the Honda engine, if you look at the GPS data, is the same as it was when they started the season in Bahrain, “he explained.

“Then they had to reduce performance due to reliability issues. I think by solving that they are back to the level they were at the beginning of the season.

“There was no step forward. We always had the same performance from Bahrain because the engine allowed us to run that way.

“For Red Bull, it’s not about taking a step forward, because that would not be allowed in the regulations.”