Can Mercedes mount a serious challenge to Red Bull now?

It's been a while since the last F1 race at Hungary, and a race in which Mercedes were strong at. Their tyres weren't so bad and it got me hoping that Mercedes would be able to reel red bull in to set up a grand finale for the final race of the season! Will it just return to business as usual for Red Bull and Vettel, have Mercedes got in top of their Tyre Issues so they can make use out if their cars pace? Have Ferrari list their way and fall off the chasing pack or will they regroup and be serious contenders again? Will Lotus be the one that hunts the red bulls down?

A lot of development would of occurred over the break, therefore its just a lottery call on stating who`s found time and who`s remained stationary. End of practice will give us a clearer indication of teams that have stepped forward. Long fast corners at Spa in comparison to Hungary, so should see Mercedes really tested in terms of their tyre progression. Vettel has to remain favourite going into the race, however the weather could also play a significant role in the weekend result.

Next season = Yes
This Season = Too Little Too Late.

Depends (as ever) on tyres. If Hamilton wins Spa with lots of tyre load then is in with a shout for the remaining races as its all about momentum. If not then feel the gap is probably gonna be just a little too big.

Fernando wrote:Next season = Yes
This Season = Too Little Too Late.

If they can, it certainly isnt too late. We're only half way through the season. ANything could happen. Would only take 1 DNF and those just behind are back in the game. Not that their out of it at the mo.

It's not going to happen unless Lotus buck up their game tbh which seems unlikely. Hamilton has got to consistently finish ahead of Vettel from now til end of season and at some point he's going to run into issues aswell

Gary Anderson (on bbc website) seems to think that Mercedes may have got on top of their tyre issues and if they have may put pressure on to Red bull and Vettel whose success tends to come from qualifying first and controlling the race from the front. Do you think that if Mercedes can qualify one and two each race ( they seem to be so strong in qualifying) that this will force Vettel into making mistakes/getting frustrated?

Gary Anderson can say or think what he likes, until Mercedes can prove they've mastered their tyre issues on tracks with high loading, fast corners, then Vettel is still the man to beat. As I said in my previous post, nobody knows who has made progress over the summer in terms of development and who has stalled, it's a complete unknown, until after FP2 at the earliest. I agree though, that if Mercedes' form continues to get stronger, then Vettel will feel the pressure and make mistakes because we've seen it before. It's all if's and buts currently, all hypothetical.......let's just wait until Spa & the weather forecast.

They all make mistakes.

I think Mercedes have a good chance. They've got a better car, tyres aside, and if that was indeed fixed then why not?

Well, Vettel has a 48 point lead over Hamilton in the drivers' standings and Red Bull lead Mercedes by 69 points in the Constructors' title.

Neither is insurmountable, but Vettel seems to have better consistency and even when he's not winning races, he more often than not finishes on the podium, stopping Raikkonen, Alonso or Hamilton eating into his lead too much.

Both teams are also hampered by having 1 driver off the boil at the moment, so I think the gap in the Constructors' race will stay about the same.

In summary I think Red Bull have built up enough of an advantage to secure both titles this season.

Next season though...could be very different with the new engine regs...

Yes dyrewolfe I feel Mercedes have left it too late. Red Bull's are very consistent and very rarely miss out on at least one podium per race and if they do they tend to finish in the points. That is great damage limitation. Too late this year but next year Mercedes may be the team to beat.