F1 News: Mercedes Warned Of "Horrible Downward Spiral" If They Can't Fix Issues

Johnny Herbert questions who could compete with Red Bull this 2024 season.

Talking with members of the media, including Alex Harrington of Sports Illustrated, former F1 driver and pundit Johnny Herbert discussed what to expect from the coming season.

2023 was a difficult season for many teams as they struggled to match the potency of Red Bull's RB19 in this ground-effect era. But the former teammate of Michael Schumacher expects a different story this season, with him putting his money on the competition making huge steps towards the reigning champions in 2024. 

The former Sky Sports F1 pundit however was keen to send a warning to Mercedes: if they don't fix their issue, they could continue their "downward spiral". 

Red Bull Press Image

"It's like always. We don't know yet who has been able to develop better. And that's been going on since when I was racing back in the 1800s. We have seen the slight changes in the concept, obviously with the side of the car, especially where everybody's working very, very hard on the sidepods to try and make those work as Red Bull did.

"The DRS is something that they've all been trying to work hard on at the same time. And then there's also drivers like Lando Norris trying to sort of stop the mistakes that he made last year.

"But I think the fundamentals are who can close that gap on Red Bull. And I think the likes of Ferrari showed good signs at the end of last year that they were definitely sort of more together. I think all their strategy calls that were hampering them over the last couple of years seemed to get better, but the performances was better as well."

Like many, Herbert's focus comes to Mercedes, who this year need to please their lead driver, Lewis Hamilton, after a season of complaints. 

"The interesting one would be Mercedes, because I know Lewis, it's one thing that he's mentioned about his seated position, and I know that has shifted a little bit further back for people to understand, it's a really horrible feeling when, like Lewis says, you're sitting on that front axle and the car is like, pivoting around you and you don't feel that you've got any connection with the car at all.

"So it'd be interesting to see if that makes the car more consistent for one thing. But then secondly, of course, they've got to get their performance. Now this is going to be a real critical year for them because if they can't or don't make the car competitive, I think this is going to be a horrible downward spiral that which they've sort of been in for the last couple of years. Because their mindset with their concept obviously hasn't worked. And if it doesn't work this year, I think there is that horrible situation where they are lost, because I don't think they know exactly what they need to do.

"So that'd be interesting to see what happens from the Mercedes point of view. Aston is another one who got a little bit lost.. Started really strong, then got lost in the middle, then it sort of got a bit better, but they'd already lost out compared to everybody else. Dan Fellows and his team have got to work very hard to try and come up with, again, the concept that will work in their favour.

"And Fernando will be wanting that to happen as Lance has got to improve his performances for sure, which he's very aware of. But Aston have a good opportunity. They're in that building situation with the way the factory is going, with all the wind tunnel that's going to be coming online, sort of shortly, but until that and everything is is all together, they've just got to have more positive year.

"Do I expect them to be jumping in the same track as the Red Bull? Probably not. But I think they definitely make the gap that was there last year much, much smaller. But then also the consistency that they need to have over a season as well and the development that everybody else seemed to be able to keep going like McLaren, for example, get that development working throughout season and then McLaren is one of those that did that really really well. So that's another side of it, especially with Oscar and Lando themselves, I think it's a good pairing. But they've got to be given the car at the same time. So again, there's a lot of positives with them."

With teams likely to make large jumps towards the front of the grid this season, a large amount of pressure will fall onto the shoulders of Red Bull who will be defending their title. And of course, with a large change in aerodynamics, Adrian Newey may, at least from outside the team, take the brunt of this.

"I suppose that's going to be the main bunch, and then it's down to what Adrian comes out with, if he can find something that the others haven't thought about. It's something he's done many, many times before, but it's going to be tougher for them, I think, because I think others will be able to improve massively.

"And then that's only going to be a good thing for us on what happens on the racetrack as well, but it's also what the drivers will thoroughly enjoy as well. So there's a lot of positives, because I think the field, especially at the front, will close, and I think once it closes down, I think then we will see some proper battles happening on the track - hopefully."

Thank you to Grosvenor Sport for setting up this interview.