Mercedes 'big concern' triggers troubling question: 'How are they even going to fight?'

Jolyon Palmer has questioned whether Mercedes will even be in F1 title contention next season, given the rate of improvement from rival teams.

Palmer feels the Brackley-based squad's trajectory over the current campaign is a "big concern", with Ferrari, McLaren and now Red Bull challenging — and beating — the once-dominant W17.

When the new era of F1 regulations kicked off with the year-opening Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes comfortably had the measure of the field.

Together, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli won the first six rounds of the season, leaving the eight-time constructors' champions cruising to another title.

However, the chasing pack has closed in, and Mercedes' recent upgrade has failed — so far — to bring the expected performance gains to re-establish its once-healthy advantage.

With F1 returning to the traditional weekend format for the United States Grand Prix after the final sprint event of the year in Singapore, Palmer believes it is the perfect chance for the Toto Wolff-led team to get back on track.

"Three practices for us to get into — I like an old-school weekend," the former Renault driver said on the F1 Nation podcast. "The teams and drivers need it.

"It's Mercedes [that needs it] more than anyone to understand their car. But I look up and down the field, and there are a few others; I look at McLaren, who still have to troubleshoot some issues...

"But Mercedes is at an opportune moment to fully move forward with this car. And when you look at the trajectory of the team from the start of the year to now — it's a big concern for them."

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The looming question hanging over Mercedes

17 rounds into the season, Mercedes has racked up 11 victories, whilst Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have two apiece.

It leaves the Silver Arrows with a 134-point lead over the Scuderia in the standings, one that is unlikely to be overtaken with only five or six rounds — due to the uncertainty surrounding Qatar and Abu Dhabi — remaining.

With both titles surely wrapped up, Palmer highlighted the need to turn attention towards 2027 and get to grips with the car, or face a bleak campaign next term.

He added: "How are they going to even fight for the championship next year with the way that everyone has caught and perhaps surpassed them?

"So their number one goal for the rest of the year — the titles are in the pocket — has to now be — it doesn't matter if you don't even win a race — understand the car and make sure that you find out that when you put parts into development back at Brackley, when you put them on the car, you go quicker.

"That is the key now to Mercedes' future success. That the current success is in the bag."