Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Oliver Solberg explains crash that ended WRC Canary Islands fight with Sebastien Ogier

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
Oliver Solberg explains crash that ended WRC Canary Islands fight with Sebastien Ogier

Bezzecchi details how Ducati ended Aprilia's winning run at the Spanish MotoGP

MotoGP
Spanish GP
Bezzecchi details how Ducati ended Aprilia's winning run at the Spanish MotoGP

DTM Red Bull Ring: Engel ends Mercedes' win drought with dominant charge

DTM
Red Bull Ring
DTM Red Bull Ring: Engel ends Mercedes' win drought with dominant charge

Marquez admits he 'doesn't have the pace to fight for MotoGP title' after Spanish GP crash

MotoGP
Spanish GP
Marquez admits he 'doesn't have the pace to fight for MotoGP title' after Spanish GP crash

WRC Canary Islands: Ogier claims first win of 2026 after Solberg crashes out

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
WRC Canary Islands: Ogier claims first win of 2026 after Solberg crashes out

MotoGP Spanish GP: Alex Marquez ends Aprilia's dominance with victory as Marc Marquez crashes out

MotoGP
Spanish GP
MotoGP Spanish GP: Alex Marquez ends Aprilia's dominance with victory as Marc Marquez crashes out

WRC Canary Islands: Solberg crashes out of victory fight on penultimate stage

WRC
Rally Islas Canarias
WRC Canary Islands: Solberg crashes out of victory fight on penultimate stage

What links a scribe's rudimentary '70s transport with an inspiring education initiative?

Feature
Formula 1
What links a scribe's rudimentary '70s transport with an inspiring education initiative?

Brawn still has faith in Mercedes car despite disapointing results in first two F1 races

Ross Brawn has faith that Mercedes has a car that is capable of delivering strong results this season, despite its struggles in the first two grands prix of the year

The Brackley-based outfit has delivered just a single point from Australia and Malaysia after being unable to carry through its qualifying form into the races.

But after understanding that it overheated its tyres in Australia, and failed to get them up to the right temperature in Malaysia, Brawn thinks that getting a grip on that matter will be enough for it to finally enjoy good results.

"We have too narrow a window in which we are operating the car - and we have to broaden that, and build more tolerance into how we are using the tyres," explained Brawn.

"When we encounter challenges like this, we look at all areas of the car and we challenge ourselves collectively to find the solutions we need. But our qualifying speed tells us that the fundamentals of performance are there: you can't do the lap times if you don't have enough downforce, horsepower or a good chassis."

Brawn has denied suggestions that Mercedes has focused too much on producing a car that is quick for qualifying at the expense of its pace over a race distance.

"Our objective is to build the best car we can for the race - and our qualifying performances are a consequence of that," he said. "Nothing has been consciously done to focus on making the car quick in qualifying, and not so good in the race, because under the current rules - with DRS and the number of pitstops - there are no real rewards for doing so.

"Using the tyres properly is vital for success, and it depends on a number of factors, including set-up, the downforce the car is generating and the drivers' approach. Within the set-up variations we can choose, we have the opportunity to find the right solution. But it's a learning process, and we missed the mark at the first two races."

Previous article Mercedes hopes tyre issues are over ahead of Chinese Grand Prix
Next article China preview quotes: McLaren

Top Comments

Latest news