HOT TAKE: Lack of power at Mercedes is nonsense

To explain their arrears to one of the Red Bulls, Mercedes have been pursuing some rather strange theories in recent weeks. These theories focus on the top speed of the RB16B, even though there is little evidence of this on the track.

According to Hamilton, Wolff and co. Red Bull Racing has such an enormous advantage on the straights that Mercedes can't make up for it in the corners. It would be a matter of 'tenths of seconds'. Mercedes will know more than us, but everything seems to indicate that this is a poor attempt at psychological warfare.

First, the rear wing was suspected. It bent too much, which would give Red Bull a big advantage on the straights. The rules for this have since been tightened. Result: Verstappen is more dominant than ever.

Mercedes gets a beating from Norris

In the meantime, the Honda engine has been mentioned, but if Mercedes are wise they will soon let go of these 'suspicions'. Honda have certainly built a good engine that can really compete with Mercedes for the first time, but there's nothing to suggest they have an unfair advantage.

In fact, based on the two weekends at the Red Bull Ring, you could even say that the Mercedes engine is still the best. Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris both topped the speed trap last weekend. In that same speed trap Verstappen was only 1.5 km/h faster than Hamilton and in the hands of Norris, it almost reached pole this weekend. From the entire top ten, six drivers drove a Mercedes engine. Nonsense.