Mercedes concern highlighted in ‘hard-to-read' situation

Karun Chandhok believes Mercedes' performance trajectory is "hard to read" given the Brackley team's inconsistent results since F1 introduced the latest era of regulations at the start of 2022.

The contemporary ground effects rules have not been kind to the eight-time constructors' champions, which has struggled to marry conventional aerodynamics with the requirements from the floor of modern F1 cars.

A considerable amount of downforce is now derived from ground effects and the floor, with striking the right balance across the car often the key to extracting the most lap time.

Mercedes initially took a developmental wrong turn, which set it back against benchmark of Red Bull. It look over a year for the team to unwind the flawed philosophy and adopt a new concept - in part due to an anomalous one-two finish at the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

However, since falling in line with the prevailing wisdom of the current rules slate, it has failed to consistently yield better results.

After going winless through 2023 and various false dawns of improved performance, the team has claimed three victories this season, but the pace of the W15 has since taken a step back again.

"It’s very hard to read their situation because I feel like in the last three years on so many occasions, you hear them say that they have finally understood the issues and could crack it," said Chandhok to Betway when discussing the unusual performance arc of the Brackley squad.

"A good example was the front wing which unlocked some performance and we then see a temporary boost and results this year like Canada, Spain or Silverstone, the car looked good and competitive.

"But it’s then just gone away again, and they’ve gone back to being the fourth best team. It’s been the case since these set of regulations came in."

It leaves Mercedes in a difficult position, trapped between trying to correct the issues it has endured - and build on the promise it has shown - during the current rules, and turning its attention to the next slate of regulations.

That era begins in 2026, meaning most teams will do little to develop their 'carry-over' cars during the winter between this season and next.

Chandhok has questioned the virtue of Mercedes addressing its existing problems, instead suggesting the team may opt to be "fully focused" on 2026 and beyond.

"On recent form you would have to say they are the fourth best team," the 40-year-old added.

"Are they going to go completely back to the drawing board and do a whole new car for 2025 ahead of the new regulations in 2026? I don’t think so.

"The 2025 car is going to be an evolution of 2024 so maybe their effort is fully focused on 2026 and getting the best car for the new regulations."

Do you think F1 should re-introduce the controversial double-points season finale concept from 2014? Let us know what you think by voting below in the latest poll by RacingNews365.