Eager to win an eighth Formula 1 world championship title, Lewis Hamilton has already made it known that he is drawing a line under his chances of winning this season as Mercedes is entangled in its porpoising problems, even if the German team seems have made some progress in Miami.
The seven-time world champion currently sits seventh in the championship with 28 points. He is 21 points behind his teammate George Russell, and especially 58 over the leader of the classification Charles Leclerc. Same observation among manufacturers: Mercedes is already unhooked compared to Ferrari and Red Bull.
But for Norbert Haug, the former Vice-President of Mercedes Motorsport, all is not yet lost despite a difficult start to the season. He believes that the German team can still save the furniture this year thanks in particular to the management of Toto Wolff.
“It looks like Mercedes had a misfire with their new W13,” Haug said.
“So you have to save what can be saved. I don’t predict immediate success, but it’s not something impossible either.”
“It is very important, as boss, that you protect your team like a wall. It is better to discuss calmly with the members, the press and the partners than to criticize yours.”
“You shouldn’t point fingers at anyone, but work on each problem one following the other.”