Despite the difficult start to the season, Giancarlo Minardi believes that Mercedes can once again make its voice heard in the Imola GP
Although expectations on Mercedes on the eve of the championship were much higher, the first six GPs of the season have established, at least for now, the clear failure of the W15 project. A significantly revised single-seater compared to the car that finished the constructors’ championship in second place in 2023, but which this year has demonstrated of not being able to keep up with Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren itself, fresh from the fantastic victory in Miami with Lando Norris.
Only in Florida, perhaps, have we seen the first glimpses of the potential of a car which, at times, he also showed that he can appear in the podium area and that he can give a hard time.
This was the case for example in the last stage in Florida, with Lewis Hamilton who managed to keep Sergio Perez’s pace for a good part of the race distance, although the final sixth place is not and cannot in any case be considered a satisfactory result for a team that has literally monopolized the hybrid era in the last 10 years.
Yet, despite the difficult start to the championship, Giancarlo Minardi believes the Brackley team can return to have their say next weekend in Imola: ‘‘In fifteen days, in Imola, the other highly anticipated team is certainly Mercedes.”
“From what we learn, their championship should start from the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. With sixth place, despite not having a high-level car, proved that he didn’t win 7 titles by chance, seeing how expensive your skin is.”
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”The result of this race it opens up great scenarios from an Imola perspective, with a fight for victory open to two or three teams. Miami gave us an important compaction of performances.”
In addition to Mercedes, the other team on which the spotlight will be focused it’s obviously Ferrari, not only as the hostess but also for the first major package of updates that the Maranello technicians will introduce on the SF24which on paper should give the single-seater a performance leap similar to that seen on the MCL-38 in Miami a few days ago.
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