Mercedes backed to end nightmare streak after Hamilton and Wolff agree

Lewis Hamilton reveals the Queen told him off at the Royal lunch

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Mercedes will be able to finally end their season-long barren spell by winning at least one Grand Prix between now and the end of the year in spite of their continued performance struggles, according to ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok. Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have both insisted that the Silver Arrows still have what it takes to recapture their winning form in the final months of the campaign despite remaining adrift of Red Bull and Ferrari in terms of outright pace.

Mercedes have already been in the mix for victory on a handful of occasions this year, with the calendar’s most technical circuits suiting their package to a greater extent than the faster tracks as a result of the excess drag that continues to hamper their straight-line speed. Chandhok believes that Mercedes will eventually be rewarded for their perseverance, though, if everything falls into place for them before the season comes to a close in Abu Dhabi at the end of November.

“I agree with them, I think they could win a race,” Chandhok exclusively told Express Sport. “If you look at the race in Holland, they lost their time on that first stint where Lewis had to get past the Ferraris.

“His race pace, especially when they put the hard tyre on, was very, very competitive. If they can qualify on the front row as George did in Budapest, and Lewis could’ve as well but he had that DRS problem in the last run, then 100 per cent they’re in with a chance.

JUST IN: Ricciardo interrupts Leclerc interview as Verstappen in dark over grid

“Not at every track, as we saw at Spa they were pretty uncompetitive. But there will be tracks where their package could work.”

Mercedes came agonisingly close to their first victory of the year at the Dutch Grand Prix earlier this month, with Hamilton having led for much of the race before a late safety car period gave Max Verstappen the opportunity to pass his rival to take the chequered flag. The German outfit have also managed to finish on the podium on no less than 10 occasions, which suggests that they may only be a few steps away from clinching the win that has evaded them for the duration of the campaign thus far.

Chandhok, meanwhile, was speaking to Express Sport after hosting the BonusFinder World Gas Pumping Championships in London and presenting the winner with a title belt, prize money and a replenished tank of petrol.

“It was one of the most amusing and left-field days I’ve had, if I’m honest,” said Chandhok. “It was just a really fun day for people to come out and win a bit of prize money.

“The people participating got well into it. It’s a bit of a random thing to do on a Wednesday but they all got really competitive and quite serious!”

Follow our new Express Sport page on Instagram here.

Source: Read Full Article