F1 news: Martin Brundle details the only way Mercedes can close the gap to Red Bull

Brundle, Hamilton, Mercedes — Photo: © IMAGO

Brundle details the only way Mercedes can close the gap to Red Bull

The Sky pundit has touted how a 'genius upgrade' could shake up the grid this season

Stuart Telford

Wednesday 17 April 2024 18:00

Martin Brundle has reacted to Toto Wolff's recent claim that the Formula One season was said and done with Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing roaring into the lead.

Mercedes' recent struggles have continued into the 2024 season, the team still without an F1 win since George Russell's at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix back in November 2022.

Article continues under video

To make matters worse, Lewis Hamilton, the joint-record seven-time champion, announced in January that he would leave for Ferrari in 2025.

The Englishman is 67 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen - and 14 behind Russel - in this year's drivers' standings, but whether driver or car is the problem has been open to debate.

Verstappen is already out in front this season

"No one is going to catch Max this year," he said after the Japanese GP, where Verstappen and Sergio Perez completed an impressive 1-2. "His driving and the car are just spectacular."

Martin Brundle was asked about Wolff's comments on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, and whilst sharing Wolff's belief that RBR are impressive, stopped short of agreeing with the outspoken Austrian.

What did Brundle say?

"Well, Toto wears his heart on his sleeve, doesn't he?," said the former driver when Wolff's comments were put to him. "Especially when we patch him just after yet another disappointment in the Mercedes team at the moment.

"I think it's kind of stating the obvious; the [Red Bull] car is strong, Max is at the peak of his game…"

But Brundle thinks there are some questions still unanswered.

"His teammate Sergio Perez is more comfortable with the 2024 car," he continued. "But he's not exactly wearing Max's mirrors out at the same time, is he?

Brundle thinks Wolff and Mercedes have time

"So it does look, unless McLaren, Ferrari, maybe Aston Martin, kind of Mercedes come up with some kind of genius upgrade that closes the gap, you'd have to say that, yeah, it does look as if they've got both championships under control.

"But we've got 20 races to go yet - and as we saw in Australia, you never know what's going to happen."

Max Verstappen Mercedes Toto Wolff Martin Brundle Red Bull Racing Formula One