Despite being dominant in the last two Formula 1 seasons, Mercedes-AMG Petronas isn’t taking anything for granted for this year.
Winning back-to-back drivers and constructors championships, Mercedes put on a show since the introduction of the current 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid units and nobody, not even Ferrari, could come close to making them second-guess their title aspirations.
Having said that, they are still weary of what their rivals can get done this off-season and will assume that teams such as Ferrari and McLaren can make considerable strides forward.
“If we look at what Ferrari has done over the last 12 months, it’s remarkable,” argued team powertrain exec Andy Cowell. “Nobody here is assuming we are going to win. Everybody here is assuming we’re going to get beaten by Ferrari, and Honda are a big threat.”
The Scuderia truly did make a huge leap in 2015, especially compared to the previous year. They not only emerged as Mercedes’ nearest challenger, but also separated themselves from the rest of the field in terms of overall pace.
As for Honda, well, their return to F1 has been nothing short of disastrous so far. Still, you won’t find Mercedes underestimating their drive any time soon, according to Cowell.
“They [Honda] have come in quickly and they are learning in front of the public, but they’re hugely determined. They are partnered with McLaren, who are hugely determined. We know exactly how McLaren work in terms of a data-driven approach, so they are going to make some big, big gains.”
Cowell also touched on Renault’s return to F1 as a factory team, saying that they’re also a very determined team and that “there are going to be some great stories to talk about.”
Story references: autosport
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