Will Mercedes spring a surprise in the 2011 season?
There were a lot of expectations from the Mercedes team in last year’s Formula 1 season. However, the team didn’t live-up to the expectations and they were way behind the front runners.
The team was the champion in the 2009 season but things were different then. The team won the championship as Brawn GP and the drivers were Jenson Button and Rubens Barichello.
The advantage that was gained back in 2009 was with the double-diffusers that Brawn GP used. It was enough of an advantage for Mercedes to win the title easily.
Last year, the team debuted as Mercedes and announced an all-German line-up. The biggest surprise was the return of the legendary driver and seven time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.
Although the team wasn’t able to match the front runners in the 2010, the team has vowed to be at the top in the next season. Team Principal Ross Brawn admitted that the car wasn’t able to win races in the last season and the best result for the team was
a third place finish.
While one German, Sebastian Vettel, became the youngest champion in 2010, the older German, Schumacher seemed out of sorts in his comeback season. The veteran driver was criticized on his return and many suggested him to quit yet again from the sport.
This criticism has not distracted the 7 time champion and he is determined to win another title. He continuously reminded his critics that he had a three year contract with Mercedes and he will fulfill that contract.
Schumacher and his team struggled with the Bridgestone tyres in the last season but Bridgestone will no longer be a part of formula 1 as Pirelli has taken over yet again after 20 years.
Even though the car wasn’t strong enough last season, it was the same for Nico Rosberg who was the team-mate of Schumacher. At the end of the season however, Rosberg finished almost double the points above what Schumacher had achieved.
There was also a speculation that the car wasn’t suited to the driving style of Schumacher and when he has a car according to his liking, the veteran is likely to match with the front runners.
Considering the last season, Red Bull, Mclaren-Mercedes and Ferrari will yet again be the dominant teams but Mercedes may be able to surprise the front runners in the next season.
If any team has the potential to win races in the next season along-with the front runners, it is definitely Mercedes. Brawn and his team are confident of a very good show in the next season and they are very happy with the progress made by the team until
now.
The first test with the Pirelli tyres also proved to be good for Mercedes however; those tests were conducted with last season’s cars. The real picture will be clear in the first pre-season test when the teams will be on the testing tracks with their 2011
cars.
Other top teams may be confident with their strong 2010 season but Mercedes will be one force to watch out for in the next season, considering their experience and resources.
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