Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn believes the new rule and regulation changes for 2014 will not halt the current dominance of Red Bull Racing.
F1 will enter a new era in 2014 with the return of V6 Turbo engines alongside numerous other changes, including the introduction of ERS (Energy Recovery System), bodywork changes to reduce downforce and an increase in the minimum weight.
Rivals are hoping that the regulation changes will help stop the Milton Keynes based outfit's incredible run of form, but after closer inspection of the steps forward that Red Bull have made throughout 2013, the Englishman is expecting their advantage to remain.
"Some of the performance I have observed they have gained in the second half of the year, it looks like performance that will translate into next year," he told AUTOSPORT.
"They suddenly have the car that sometimes tops the speed trap times, and they have never done that in years. They have managed to shed some drag off the car, so some of the car’s performance in certain areas of the track, if carried over in to next year, will make it very challenging.
"It is a new slate in many ways [in 2014], but I think you don’t unlearn things. So things they have modified with this year’s car will be applicable for next year."
Meanwhile, Brackley based Mercedes are re-thinking their car set-up approach for the final two races of the season.
Lewis Hamilton isn't happy with his performance in 2013, particularly the drop in race pace in comparison to his one-lap speed.
The Brit has previously complained that the car loses performance when stuck behind other F1 machinery. Brawn believes the team need to make changes to the cars set-up for race day, at the cost of some qualifying speed, for the final two rounds.
He said: "I think one of the weaknesses of the car at the moment, which we have identified, is our ability to follow and overtake is poor. Of course, if you get yourself into your position where you need to do that to rebuild your race, then your race goes from bad to worse.
"That is really what happened to Lewis in the last couple of races and that is something we want to think about for Austin and Brazil. It could be we need to modify our approach to have a car and a set-up philosophy that puts a bit more emphasis on the ability to race the other cars than the lap time."
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Rivals are hoping that the regulation changes will help stop the Milton Keynes based outfit's incredible run of form, but after closer inspection of the steps forward that Red Bull have made throughout 2013, the Englishman is expecting their advantage to remain.
"Some of the performance I have observed they have gained in the second half of the year, it looks like performance that will translate into next year," he told AUTOSPORT.
"They suddenly have the car that sometimes tops the speed trap times, and they have never done that in years. They have managed to shed some drag off the car, so some of the car’s performance in certain areas of the track, if carried over in to next year, will make it very challenging.
"It is a new slate in many ways [in 2014], but I think you don’t unlearn things. So things they have modified with this year’s car will be applicable for next year."
Meanwhile, Brackley based Mercedes are re-thinking their car set-up approach for the final two races of the season.
Lewis Hamilton isn't happy with his performance in 2013, particularly the drop in race pace in comparison to his one-lap speed.
The Brit has previously complained that the car loses performance when stuck behind other F1 machinery. Brawn believes the team need to make changes to the cars set-up for race day, at the cost of some qualifying speed, for the final two rounds.
He said: "I think one of the weaknesses of the car at the moment, which we have identified, is our ability to follow and overtake is poor. Of course, if you get yourself into your position where you need to do that to rebuild your race, then your race goes from bad to worse.
"That is really what happened to Lewis in the last couple of races and that is something we want to think about for Austin and Brazil. It could be we need to modify our approach to have a car and a set-up philosophy that puts a bit more emphasis on the ability to race the other cars than the lap time."
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