---
title: "Mercedes: Pace comparison to Red Bull shows we have our ‘work cut out’"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2021/03/15/mercedes-pace-comparison-to-red-bull-shows-we-have-our-work-cut-out/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2021-03-15T11:14:50Z"
modified: "2021-03-15T11:14:52Z"
---

# Mercedes: Pace comparison to Red Bull shows we have our ‘work cut out’

Mercedes admits it has its “work cut out” for the first race of the new Formula 1 season after data showed it is slower than Red Bull over race runs.

The three-day pre-season test proved tricky for the Brackley-based outfit as it was left on the back foot following setbacks on the opening two days in Bahrain.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas encountered problems with the W12 as a gearbox issue hampered Bottas on day one, and the pair struggled to tame the rear-end of the car.

Despite a trouble-free final day, Mercedes ended the test having completed the least amount of laps of all 10 teams, finishing over a second off Red Bull’s best time.

Red Bull has already downplayed suggestions it is favourite going into the season opener, but Mercedes trackside engineer Andrew Shovlin conceded its data proves the team is playing catch up

“We’ve made a bit of progress with the balance on higher fuel and the car was more predictable but we can see from the data we’ve collected over the last few days that on race pace, we’re not as quick as Red Bull,” Shovlin said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“The lower fuel work was a more confusing picture, we didn’t gain enough and we need to go and look at our approach as far too many cars were ahead of us on pace today.

“We’ve had issues in recent years with pace in winter testing and managed to make good progress before the first race but we may have our work cut out this time.

“We’ve not got long before we’re back here for the race so we’ve planned a programme of work to try and understand some of our issues and will be leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to find some more speed over the next 10 days.”

Mercedes focused heavily on its set-up over long-run pace with Bottas in the morning session, before conducting both long-runs and qualifying simulations after Hamilton jumped in the car in the afternoon.

The Briton fitted a set of the softest compound C5 tyres to see how Mercedes faired over one-lap, but was unable to match Max Verstappen’s benchmark time.

“Today we made some improvements but it’s still not where we want to be,” Hamilton said.

“I can’t pick out any one area, it just feels globally through the lap that we need to improve. I’m looking forward to getting back into competition and back in that focus mode.”