Mercedes does not rule out being caught up by the competition
Although Mercedes dominated the 2014 season, particularly thanks to its excellent hybrid power unit, the team keeps a close watch on the competition and does not rule out being caught up in terms of performance in the near future.
One of the strengths of great teams is not underestimating the competition. Mercedes is well aware of this, and despite its impressive 2014 season, marked by two world titles, both drivers and constructors, the star-branded company keeps in mind that its three direct competitors, Renault, Ferrari, and now Honda, have the ability to catch up in terms of performance.
Andy Cowell, the chief engineer of Mercedes, knows that the team must not rest on its laurels: « The rules are the same for everyone, in fact, everyone has the same chances. I see no reason why our rivals shouldn’t develop a good engine like ours, » he stated to the German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport.
With this idea in mind, Mercedes continues to invest even more to maintain its advantage: “Of course, we are also not lagging behind, but the more development advances, the more the improvement curve grows. On the other hand, we have learned that there are no limits when it comes to engines in Formula 1,” he explains, before adding: “Ferrari and Renault are aiming higher than what we currently have. Honda is a bit of an unknown, but we must not underestimate the capacity of the Japanese manufacturer. We are going to make a big step forward, but we cannot guarantee that it will be enough to be better than the competition.”
