Verstappen: 'I still believe Mercedes is in trouble'

For the first time in years, Mercedes were not 'sandbagging' during the F1 winter tests. Mercedes are currently not the strongest team, but Max Verstappen thinks that this could possibly change soon.

Mercedes does not seem to be able to stand up to Ferrari and Red Bull Racing after the first Grand Prix in Bahrain. The team that performed extremely well in recent years, was therefore disappointing at the start of 2022. Usually Mercedes plays a typical game during the winter tests in which they do not show their true potential and then appear dominant at the start of the season. This year the team was also suspected of this sandbagging, but now it appears that the team is really in trouble.

Viaplay asked Verstappen if he still believes that Mercedes is really struggling. Verstappen: "I still think they have some problems, but once they get it together with the car they have now, they can suddenly be very strong again." Verstappen seems convinced that Mercedes has built a strong car, but that the porpoising problems are killing them. Indeed, without those problems, Mercedes could be right back at the top of the field.

In Bahrain, the team showed the German reliability of the brand. Indeed, unlike Red Bull Racing, Mercedes was able to finish the race. Although the team did not come close to Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Verstappen and Charles Leclerc during the race, Lewis Hamilton did manage to grab a podium by at least finishing the race.