Mercedes has achieved the rare feat of finishing 1-2 in the first three races of 2019, but F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn doubts the German outfit will run away with the title this year.
The Silver Arrows squad's impressive start to its campaign is a hark back to 1992, the last year in which a team - Williams - scored 1-2 finishes in the opening three races of the season.
Back then, armed with the redoubtable Williams FW14B, Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese had imposed their will on the field, with the dominant Brit clinching nine wins and the championship.
In his usual post-weekend debrief, Brawn compared Williams' winning opening salvo in 1992 and Mercedes' recent run of success, and explained why Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas likely won't enjoy the same level of supremacy.
"It was down to a superior technical package in the era of active suspension, to the extent that Mansell brought home a further two wins before Ayrton Senna delivered one of his trademark miracle performances in Monaco, which momentarily interrupted an incredible run of wins," said Brawn.
"However, despite the statistics being racked up by Mercedes, I don't believe that 2019 will follow the same script as ‘92.
"The three consecutive one-two finishes scored by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are definitely down to a team that is operating to perfection at the moment, with a top notch technical package, but it’s also fair to say it is up against stronger opposition than was Williams back in ’92."
Indeed, Ferrari has proven that it can give Mercedes a run for its money, but only if it can match its rival's flawless execution as Brawn underlines.
"The first three races have confirmed that if Ferrari wants to challenge Mercedes everything has to be perfect at all levels: performance, reliability and teamwork," added F1's managing director.
"That’s what Binotto and his guys have to do and, knowing Mattia, I am sure he is aware of that and will devote all his energies to ensuring it happens."
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