Damon Hill raises doubts over Mercedes' bid to close Red Bull gap under F1 rules

08 November 2023 , 10:47

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Damon Hill has raised concerns about Mercedes' 2024 car (Image: Getty Images)

Damon Hill believes Mercedes' aerodynamics department will struggle to close the gap on Formula 1's dominant team Red Bull.

Mercedes have failed to keep up with Red Bull this season. Lewis Hamilton's team are second in the Constructors' Championship, 20 points ahead of Ferrari in third. Red Bull clinched that title, as well as the Drivers' Championship for Max Verstappen, weeks ago.

Mercedes are desperate to be competitive again after a nightmare performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Hamilton finishing eighth and George Russell failing to complete the race. Team chief Toto Wolff said it was their "worst weekend in 13 years".

Red Bull's dominance was triggered by a change in the regulations at the start of 2022. Mercedes have struggled to design a car capable of challenging for race wins but are hoping to build something similar to the class-leading RB19 for next year.

Yet Hill thinks Mercedes will struggle to build such a car. The 1996 world champion believes Mercedes' dominance between 2014 and 2021 - when they won every Constructors' Championship - was down to having "the best power unit for a very long time".

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Speaking to Sky Sports, Hill explained the difference between Mercedes' aerodynamics and Red Bull's. He added: "Towards the end of the previous F1 regulations, they persisted with their relatively flat looking rake on the car, whereas Red Bull were absolutely huge.

"They led the way and everyone started following Red Bull with this very high rake. It looked like a rat running along the car. It had a very high back. But Mercedes stuck persistently (with their rake)... they looked like they were running a different aero concept on their car in the previous regulations, and then along come a new set of regulations."

Toto Wolff is under pressure to produce a competitive car for Mercedes (Getty Images)

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Hill then asked: "What I'm saying is, is the Mercedes aero department missing a trick here? And they've lost quite a few good aero people to other teams as well, over time."

Despite Hill's view, Wolff will be determined to make Mercedes competitive again in 2024. The team chief said after the Brazilian GP: "We will have a fundamentally different car next year and this confirms that is the right thing to do."

Wolff added: "We are a proper structure, a solid team and that didn't look like a solid team today. Interestingly, within three consecutive races, you are finishing a strong second in two and challenging Max and then a week later you are nowhere.

"And I believe this is just not on. This car, the development has been more plasters we put on something not right, and it shows that it is so unpredictable that it can swing either side."

Tom Blow