Mercedes has no reason to panic and make unnecessary changes amid its current form, according to its former chief and current Formula 1 Managing Director of Motorsports Ross Brawn.
Mercedes has not won a race this year – the first time it has gone three events win-less in the hybrid era – and has topped qualifying just once, though holds a one-point advantage over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.
Brawn oversaw Mercedes’ return to Formula 1 in 2010, having joined the operation under its Honda guise in 2007, guiding it to both titles under his own name in 2009, before departing in 2013.
Mercedes dominated the sport between 2014 and 2016, and fended off a rejuvenated Ferrari to remain atop the pile last year, and Brawn does not see reason for the squad to become alarmed at its start to 2018.
“For the first time since F1 has used the V6 hybrid power unit, the three-pointed star has failed to win for three races in a row,” said Brawn, reflecting on the Chinese Grand Prix.
“It's the first time over the same period that it has failed to win in Shanghai, having previously finished on the top step of the podium three times with Hamilton and once with [Nico] Rosberg.
“Their run of consecutive poles is even longer at this track, dating back to 2012.
“What's happening to the dominant force in the current F1 era?
“In all three races so far this season, they've been in with a chance of winning – remember Bottas was leading [in China] – but they've failed every time.
“The opposition is stronger and they have increased in number and seem to have drastically closed down the technical edge that Mercedes has held for the past four years.
“What can they do to turn things around? Drastic action is not needed, they need to remain composed and fix all the small issues that accumulate and contribute to losing races.
“They are the same team that have been so dominant and they haven't forgotten what to do.”
