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Mercedes and Red Bull could be playing catch-up in new F1 season, says Brawn
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton compete in the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, December 5, 2021. — AFP pic
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LONDON, Feb 17 — Formula One managing director Ross Brawn believes Mercedes and Red Bull could be off the pace when the new season starts next month after they were caught up in last year’s “intense” world championship battle.
Lewis Hamilton was poised to capture a record-breaking eighth world title at the Abu Dhabi finale in December before a controversial safety car restart allowed Dutch driver Max Verstappen to pass his British rival on the last lap.
Brawn, who has spearheaded a major overhaul of the sport’s technical regulations, said Mercedes — winners of the past eight constructors’ championships — and Red Bull might have taken their eyes off the ball.
Jenson Button profited in 2009 when Brawn GP took advantage of a regulation change, winning six of the opening seven races on his way to the title.
Hamilton was the defending champion at the time but his McLaren team endured a torrid campaign and he recorded just two victories.
The budget cap for the forthcoming year also restricts teams to spending US$140 million (RM586 million).
“Mercedes and Red Bull could be impacted,” said Brawn. “Last year, human resources were devoted to fighting a very intense world championship. Some of the teams further back didn’t have that consideration.
“If I had been Ferrari or McLaren in the very early part of last year, I would have put everything into the 2022 car.
“That is what happened in 2009. The year before there was a big battle between Ferrari and McLaren and they fell flat on their faces. I don’t think it will be that severe but is a good point.
“A team has to balance its financial resources each season, too, and you cannot simply throw money at it. That is what teams with deep pockets did in the past. It will provide us with a more competitive field for the future.”
Brawn described 2021 as a “great season” between two drivers and two teams but said he wanted to see more teams in the mix.
“I don’t think the regulations will change the general order dramatically — the good teams will always do a good job — but it will bring the field closer,” he said.
“We are blessed with a number of great drivers — McLaren’s Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and George Russell moving to Mercedes — so if there are three or four drivers in the mix for the title than that is even better.”
Hamilton, 37, will speak in public for the first time since his title defeat in Abu Dhabi when he appears at Mercedes’ Silverstone car launch on Friday.
The seven-time world champion is set to drive his new Silver Arrows at the opening test in Barcelona next week ahead of the first race in Bahrain on March 20. — AFP