Mercedes track engineer Andrew Shovlin said the team will not underestimate the threat posed by Red Bull and Max Verstappen for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Although Lewis Hamilton took the checkered flag at the season opener in Bahrain, it wasn’t Mercedes’ strongest performance. Red Bull clearly had the fastest car, as demonstrated when they topped the timesheets in all practice sessions and then clinched pole position in qualifying.
The new aerodynamics regulations benefit Red Bull more than the reigning champions. The shorter wheelbase mandated by the FIA has had an impact on the low-rake cars on the grid, and the reigning champions know that.
Shovlin said of Red Bull’s strengths:
“There is no doubt that Red Bull is working really well. They are a sharp, well-focused team that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. “
I love the challenge. I love this sport. What a start to the season 
today is a reminder that by harnessing and channeling our collective power, we can achieve great things. It’s great to be back pic.twitter.com/bazzkXTsag
– Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) March 28, 2021
Mercedes says Verstappen is smarter and more mature
Andrew Shovlin also admitted that Max Verstappen is Mercedes’ closest competitor this season. The Brackley-based team believe that Verstappen is a much smarter and more mature driver now than it has been any season before. Shovlin said of the Dutchman:
“Max is now clearly a very mature, very intelligent racing driver and he is difficult. And they are developing well, they have proven in every season that they have the ability to put a lot of power into the car. ”
Shovlin has also hinted that the championship fight will be extremely close this season. He compared the current competition between Red Bull and Mercedes with the 2018 season, in which Ferrari probably had the faster car.
Regarding his predictions for the championship fight this season, Shovlin said:
“So whatever the starting point, this won’t be an easy championship. It’s going to be tight and we’re not going to give up. And they’ll tell you the same thing.” In some of them (2018 races) we didn’t do everything perfectly, but some of them were Ferrari just better than us, races and qualifications. “
The track’s engineering director claims Mercedes have a lot of work to do if they want to compete with Max Verstappen this season. Although contrary to popular narrative, Mercedes is no stranger to stiff competition for the title. In the 2018 Formula 1 season, Ferrari had the best engine in the field and was the faster car on most tracks. Therefore, according to Shovlin, the reigning champions are prepared for a season-long challenge from Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
“So we’ve had some tough years in the last few seasons, that’s not alien to us and we have to work with that. So it’s two teams that are pretty much head to head at the moment, so I think it’s going to be a tough year. “
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