Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has Aston Martin, McLaren and Alpine fear for Lewis Hamilton

F1: Hamilton admits new Mercedes car has less downforce

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.

Toto Wolff has claimed that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are expecting a tough challenge from the increasingly dangerous midfield pack when the new F1 season gets underway at the end of the month. The battle for third place in the Constructors’ Championship last season was closely fought throughout the campaign, with McLaren sneaking in on the final day to beat Racing Point, now known as Aston Martin, to the title of ‘best of the rest’.

Ferrari’s catastrophic fall from grace opened the door for a host of teams to snatch valuable points in the fight to finish behind the Silver Arrows and Red Bull.

McLaren, Racing Point, Alpha Tauri and Renault, who have since rebranded as Alpine, all claimed podium finishes last year as the gap between the midfield and F1’s top two began to close.

Wolff, who is hoping for another successful season at Mercedes with Hamilton chasing an unprecedented eighth Drivers’ Championship title, is well aware of the threat posed by the chasing pack ahead of the new campaign.

He told Sky Sport Germany that there is no room for the Silver Arrows to become complacent, suggesting that Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas could be in for a bumpy ride if they allow the likes of McLaren and Aston Martin to continue their assault on the upper reaches of the grid.

“As I’ve said before, you can’t write off the rest,” said Wolff.

JUST IN: Lewis Hamilton suffers big blow ahead of new F1 season after split

“At Ferrari, it’s not clear how much ground they can make up for this year, but the other three or four teams in midfield will make our lives a lot more difficult this year.

“If it’s not about victory, it will be about the number of podium places. That’s why as a team you can’t afford to go wrong. Otherwise you will quickly be in sixth or seventh place.”

Aston Martin will benefit from the experience of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel this year, with the veteran set to partner Lance Stroll after leaving Ferrari at the end of last season.

McLaren have also added a proven race winner to their ranks after landing Daniel Ricciardo on a three-year contract, while Alpine will see Fernando Alonso, making his return to the grid after a two-year absence, line up alongside Esteban Ocon.

Just 21 points separated third from fifth in the Constructors’ Championship in 2020, with the prospect of another tight finish looming large ahead of the new campaign.

Teams will be able to form a better picture of their hopes for the upcoming season after next week’s condensed pre-season testing programme at the Bahrain International Circuit.

While Mercedes remain the overwhelming favourites to resume their dominance of the sport, their preparations have not gone as smoothly as they would have liked.

The Silver Arrows admitted last month that they were battling to iron out a number of lingering power unit issues, a stumbling block that could potentially allow the likes of Red Bull, Alpha Tauri and Alpine to gain an early advantage over their Mercedes-powered rivals.

Wolff has also claimed that an enforced change to the floor area could give Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez the upper hand during the opening stages of the season.

Meanwhile, Hamilton could see his title hopes dented after the departure of right-hand man and trusted aide Marc Hynes on the eve of the new campaign.

However, if Mercedes can arrest their problems as soon as possible, another championship double would put the German outfit in a promising position ahead of the scheduled upheaval of sporting and technical regulations in 2022.

Source: Read Full Article