Former F1 driver doubts Mercedes can take 'massive step forward'

Former Formula One driver David Coulthard doubts that Mercedes can make the big moves necessary to challenge Ferrari and Red Bull Racing this season. The team has started the new season with a big deficit and is mainly benefiting from problems at other teams.

After eight constructors' titles in a row, it takes some getting used to for Mercedes to no longer be competing for victory. The problems with the W13 are still too big, so Lewis Hamilton and George Russell cannot keep up with the pace of Ferrari and Red Bull.

Mercedes is in second place in the Constructors' Championship, but the team only has only managed that thanks to Red Bull's reliability problems. Max Verstappen has already retired twice in three races, which has allowed Russell to climb to P2 in the Driver's Championship.

'Long and tough season for Mercedes'

The W13 seems to be struggling with the new regulations. The car suffers extremely from porpoising. In addition, the engine would not have the desired power, which also makes Mercedes' customer teams less competitive this season. The team is busy finding solutions, but the other teams are also continuing to develop their cars. Coulthard therefore doubts that Mercedes can catch up.

"I think this will be a long, hard season for them. Nobody else stands still, that’s the problem they have. So they have to take not baby steps, they need to take a massive step forward, and in my experience that never happens during a season," the Scot said on Channel 4.