Can Mercedes do better: 'Not got the best from its new power unit just yet'

Mercedes is having a difficult start to the new season. The German formation had become accustomed to competing for the world title in recent years, but for the time being has to settle for the spot of third team. Gary Anderson, however, thinks that Mercedes will soon return to the top.

For years between 2014 and 2020, Mercedes managed to win the world championship. Whereas Lewis Hamilton took no less than six world titles, Nico Rosberg beat him in 2016. Last season, Hamilton had to take his loss against Max Verstappen.

This season, however, things are different. Partly due to the new regulations, Mercedes is obviously struggling against Ferrari and Red Bull Racing. Mercedes may have managed to secure the third and fourth spots during the opening race in Bahrain, but that was largely due to Verstappen and Sergio Perez dropping out.

The Germans hope to improve the car so much in the coming months that they can once again allow Hamilton and George Russell to fight for the front positions. Anderson, who is critical of Mercedes' path in 2022, expects there is still plenty of room for improvement from the engine, he told The Race: "Personally, I still suspect Mercedes has not got the best from its new power unit just yet."