Allison: Chasing down Red Bull is 'exhilarating' for Mercedes

Mercedes has endured a difficult period in F1 and the Brackley squad is still attempting to turn around its fortunes, but chasing down Red Bull is a thrilling experience according to technical director James Allison.

Like its front-running rivals, Mercedes has been no match for Red Bull since the introduction last season of F1's ground-effect regulations.

The German attempted to innovate with its zero-sidepod concept, but scored just a single win in 2022, thanks to a flawless performance by George Russell at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

That success encouraged Mercedes to stick with its car's novel concept for this season, but the team's lack of pace and consistency at the outset forced its engineers to devise a new development path, one that is now well underway.

Mercedes' lack of success on the back of eight seasons of near-crushing domination has been a humbling experience for the former championship-winning outfit.

But Allison notes that putting the Brackley squad back on its rails has turned into an "exhilarating" adventure for its tirelessly working crews thanks to a change of its mindset.

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"We're all going to feel a bit miffed about [not being competitive], even though that sort of unhappiness we see every time they win is offset hugely by the fact that it is thrilling in its own way to be fighting back, to be improving our car week-on-week," Allison said in Montreal.

"They don't have a God-given right to be in the lead, they're there by merit, having worked really well. If we can do as good or better job, we’ll be there and that is actually a lot of fun.

"It’s a very, very exhilarating thought once you frame it correctly in your head, and something that we're all tucked into trying to make a reality."

Mercedes rolled out its new-spec W14 black arrow in Monaco, but Barcelona delivered a better validation of the changes, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both finishing on the podium in Spain, while the former followed that solid performance up with another P3 in Canada.

Allison reckoned that both Hamilton and Russell have also been spurred on by Mercedes regaining its footing lately and part of its mojo.

"I think that both our drivers are very similar to the rest of the team in that if you sense that there is a change of momentum, that gives you a huge boost that you keep this running and the good times and the champagne will flow again," said the British engineer.

"And for the drivers, who get the sort of visceral excitement of actually feeling their car overtaking other people, that lifts their spirits.

"But I imagine when they're actually standing on the podium and reflecting on the fact that they're not on the top step that may temper their enthusiasm somewhat."

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