F1 pundit blames Mercedes’ miserable situation on a lack of innovative thinking, says they were blinded by their past domination

Mercedes continue to struggle in the 2023 Formula 1 season.

F1 pundit blames Mercedes’ miserable situation on a lack of innovative thinking, says they were blinded by their past domination

Peter Windsor comments on Mercedes' struggles(Images via Irish Mirror and The Guardian)

Mercedes F1 team are accustomed to success, triumph, and domination. Their run from 2014 to 2021 is legendary, having clinched the constructors’ title a record-breaking eight times on the trot. However, since the new technical directives were introduced in 2022, the Silver Arrows have delivered mediocre results. They are not the dominant entity they once were.

F1 pundit Peter Windsor provided his reasoning behind the fall of the German outfit on his YouTube live stream. He said, “They just went gung ho for massive downforce on the car and were shocked, I think, I guess. When the car first ran and George [Russell] and Lewis [Hamilton] said, “We can’t drive the car, there’s so much porpoising we can’t even see straight.” “

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Peter Windsor added, “So because of their success, I guess they felt that they could do it, they could move mountains. They don’t need to go outside their own box to know how to do it and they paid the price and they’re still paying the price.” He claims that the overconfidence in their capacity based on their dominant run led to the team being overwhelmed by their rivals.

Mercedes have announced a massive upgrade, which has been postponed to Monaco following the cancellation of the Imola GP. They refer to this as the ‘W14B’, indicating that they have revamped their entire car design in an effort to be competitive once again.

Related: Lewis Hamilton might remain frustrated with Mercedes despite much awaited Monaco upgrades, reckons F1 pundit

Mercedes’ momentum is dependent on their W14 paying dividends

Mercedes W14 via Terra
Mercedes W14 (Image via Terra)

The Silver Arrows team is getting ready to unveil their enhanced challenger, the ‘W14B’. They strive to narrow the performance difference and mount a challenge against the dominant Red Bull team. Both drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, have great expectations that the upgraded car will allow them to compete more efficiently. They will hope to close the gap to the current frontrunners.

The side-pod design of the Mercedes W14 is currently under scrutiny and may undergo revisions. The team’s previous ‘zero pod’ design, introduced last year, has received substantial criticism from different sources. In response to the widespread disapproval, Mercedes will want to modify the side-pod design. The objective is to address the concerns and enhance the car’s overall performance.

The upcoming upgrade package is anticipated to bring significant enhancements to the car’s performance. This upgrade is viewed as a crucial milestone for the team in the current season. They strive to improve their competitiveness and take on their rivals.

Presently placed third, they trail Aston Martin by six points and Red Bull by a considerable 128 points. While their chances of winning the championship remain slim, the upgrades are expected to aid them in potentially solidifying their position as the second-fastest team on the grid.

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