Ex-F1 driver Damon Hill remains somewhat adamant that Mercedes will end the season having won at least one race, something they only have six races left to achieve.
It’s been a disappointing year for the Silver Arrows, who have clearly failed to build the best car for the new aerodynamic regulations, with the German’s currently third in the Constructors’ Championship.
Whilst Mercedes have been incredibly reliable this year, they’ve failed to challenge Red Bull and Ferrari consistently, with the defending Constructors’ Champions only just becoming capable now of battling with the Scuderia.
The German’s desperately need a win from one of the final six races this season, in order to continue their streak of having won at least one race every season since 2012.
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Should this come to an end, then it really would be the hammer blow for the Silver Arrows, who will be wishing for the current season to hurry up and end.
In Mercedes’ defence, they have gotten stronger as the season has gone on; however, they still spent too long at the start of the season fixing their porpoising issue, rather than improving the performance of the W13.
Hill is confident that Mercedes will get that much-needed victory, and that it might take a “crazy race” for them to do it.
“Believe me when you’re in that situation in the sport, you know, is pressures enormous from the media. But we’re still asking the question Can Mercedes win race?” he told the F1 Nation podcast.
“Something will happen, we always get a crazy race somewhere between now and end of the year, there’s going to be a crazy race and Mercedes could well pick up that win.
“That would scupper Max’s chances of winning every single race to the end of the season. But we’ll see. There’s gonna be rain, one of them is gonna be wet, Suzuka is going to be wet!”
With Red Bull on the verge of wrapping up the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, the Austrian side may opt to halt development of their RB18 and turn their attention to 2023.
This could open the door for Mercedes to claim a victory, with Hill certain that Red Bull will be swamped if they turn their attention fully to next year.
“If they don’t do any more development now on this car, Ferrari and Mercedes will be all over them by time they get to Abu Dhabi,” he added.
As it stands, George Russell is ahead of seven-time World Champion team-mate Sir Lewis Hamilton.
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The former Williams driver has been unbelievable in his first season at Mercedes, with Hill believing that should the 24-year-old finish above his team-mate this year then “his career is made”.
“It’s incredible,” said Hill of Russell’s achievements.
“If he beats Lewis, his career is made. That’s all he cares about. And also, both of them being British, he beats Lewis that’s it as his career has been made.
“So that was his only emphasis – what he needed to do to beat Lewis, and that’s what he’s been doing.”