Mercedes rediscover "fun element" of F1 with challenge from Red Bull

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin feels this year's sustained title fight with Red Bull and Max Verstappen has again injected the "fun element" of F1 into Mercedes.

Since the introduction of turbo-hybrid power in 2014, Mercedes has been largely unchallenged as it has secured seven constructors' and drivers' title doubles.

Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel twice provided a threat in the drivers' battle before the German's push faded after the summer break.

With seven races to go in the current campaign, Lewis Hamilton leads Verstappen by just two points, while Mercedes has a 33-point cushion over Red Bull.

“It’s just different and there is always pressure on you," Shovlin told Sky Sports F1.

"There is pressure to win races but the fun element that comes with it now, you’ve got no idea how it’s going to pan out.

“If you do a great job, you win, and if you don’t, you pay the price. But it’s certainly making the racing exciting.”

For the Turkish GP, Hamilton faces a 10-place grid penalty for taking his fourth engine of the season, presenting Mercedes with another challenge to tackle.

Asked about the atmosphere within Mercedes, Shovlin said: “[It's] really, really good at the moment.

"It’s one of the great things about this team at the moment and it is nice to have the competition.

"The years in the past it was much easier to win the championships but it wasn’t as much fun as it is this year, and every win means a lot more when you’re racing a fierce competitor like Red Bull.”

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