If there is one team above all that has made a clear step forward compared to the start of the season, that is it Mercedes. The Brackley team with the updates brought to the W-14 - which has become to all intents and purposes a B car - he raised his head, starting a very long challenge with Aston Martin for second place in the constructors' championship.
Mercedes, it's a new beginning
The updates have arrived officially at Monte Carlo. A very anomalous choice, considering the characteristics of the track, but this decision cannot but be interpreted as a signal. At Brackley they knew that, after having failed with the “zero sidepod” concept, with this new car they couldn't go wrong. "They would have outclassed us” – admitted team principal Toto Wolff, referring to what would have been the considerations of the media in the event of another unsuccessful Mercedes.
Barcelona-Canada, the podiums arrive
Two races, three podiums. For now, this is the excellent history of the new W-14 which, although it may not perform particularly well in qualifying, in the race proves that it can easily compete with Aston Martin. Red Bull – essentially since the tests carried out in Bahrain – is in another category, and little can be said about this. A has arrived in Spain double podium, in which Mercedes proved to be the second force on the track, while in Canada Hamilton took third position – behind Alonso and winner Verstappen. Even in Sunday's race, Mercedes performed very well, especially in terms of pace, despite the seven-time world champion not being able to attack Alonso in the final moments of the race.
Wolff admits: “Mercedes will bring several updates”
The fight with Aston Martin is there and, as always, within the season Formula 1 the updates will make a big difference to decide who will prevail. The Silverstone team has already brought important innovations to Canada and prepares, as admitted by Alonso, updates also for the Silverstone GP. Mercedes is also on the same page with Toto Wolff who has already announced upcoming updates: “We still have two upgrade packages to bring to the next races. One will be at Silverstone, the other before the summer break".
Let the show begin
Make yourselves comfortable: the battle for second place has just begun. Aston Martin or Mercedes, who will win?
