After two years of domination from Mercedes, the German manufacturers are ready to go head-to-head with Ferrari.
2016 is supposed to be the year that everyone within Formula One has been waiting for.
A gigantian battle between the two power houses of modern day Formula One. With Mercedes and Ferrari heading into the 2016 Formula One World Championship with potentially similar performing cars.
Whilst Mercedes pilot Nico Rosberg has put up a gallant battle against now three-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, a battle from Ferrari and two former F1 World Champions is a battle of greater substance.
Ferrari have been making all of the right noises ahead of the new season.
Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne wants Ferrari to hit the ground running and start winning as soon as the latest Ferrari is unleashed.
It might be a record setting 21 race season, but Ferrari want to lay down the gauntlet at the curtain raiser of the 2016 season in Australia.
There are no assumptions in the Mercedes factories, two years of dominance has not gone to their heads and they are ready for the new challenges that Ferrari and perhaps even McLaren Honda will bring.
‘Nobody here is assuming we are going to win.
‘Everybody here is assuming we’re going to get beaten by Ferrari, and Honda are a big threat.’ Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell told the BBC.
‘(Honda) have come in quickly and they are learning in front of the public but they’re hugely determined, and partnered with McLaren, who are hugely determined.
‘We know exactly how McLaren work in terms of a data-driven approach, so they are going to make some big, big gains.’
But whilst Cowell believes that Ferrari and Honda will continue to make gains, he doesn’t believe that Mercedes have reached the ceiling with the development of their power-unit either.
‘We’ve made some good gains over the past two years, I don’t see that stopping. I don’t think anybody here sees that we have reached the limit.’
Roll on next month!
Mercedes ready to play catch-up to Ferrari
