Lowe: Mercedes will be 'difficult to beat' in 2019

  • Published on 22 Jan 2019 09:55
  • comments 4
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Williams' chief technical officer Paddy Lowe believes that Mercedes will be a tough team to crack in 2019 following its run of success in the turbo hybrid era. The Silver Arrows are yet to be defeated since 2014, winning every world drivers' and constructors' championship since.

Mercedes saw a challenge erupt from Ferrari in 2017 and 2018, but a number of mishaps saw the former ease to the championship. Lowe, who spent three and a half years at Mercedes, says that the motivation within the camp will be as high as ever.

"It’s always very difficult to maintain motivation to continue to win when you’ve already been doing it. I think that’s a problem we already faced when I was there before. I think they have the right approach to it so I think they’re going to be difficult to beat.

"We saw that again [last] year. I think it was a competition between two teams and two drivers and the better ones won, of each. Because you saw the cracks appearing eventually in the opposition. Mercedes is a great team. I know how good it is. It will be very difficult for anyone to beat them."

Wolff anticipating a heightened challenge
 

While Mercedes will be favourites once again heading into the new season, team principal Toto Wolff believes that it will be another close battle, predicting that Red Bull could join in the fight now that it its Honda as a power unit supplier.

"Ferrari has ramped up its game over the last years tremendously and I think our performance levels were pretty close to each other," he said. "In the end we came up with a small advantage, but they have become a formidable competitor.

"Red Bull and Honda might be another team joining the party," continued Wolff. "But with the new regulations it's up in the air if somebody else could be competitive too."

Replies (4)

Login to reply
  • We're in for another dull and boring season then.. zzzzzzZZZZ

    • + 0
    • Jan 22 2019 - 11:39
    • Thats why the setup for a closely matched first half, and tense battles in post-summer season, and big reveal of Merc's capabilities in the last 8 races to wrap up the season.

      • + 0
      • Jan 22 2019 - 17:02
  • Gee, thanks for pointing out this incredibly hard to miss detail, Lowe. Thine divine glow hath enlightened this filthy heretic yet another time.

    • + 0
    • Jan 22 2019 - 20:09
  • blade

    Posts: 341

    I hope not - for everyone's sake !!!!

    • + 0
    • Jan 22 2019 - 22:32

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Dec 6 1982 (41)
  • Place of b. Oban, GB
  • Weight 53 kg
  • Length 1.68 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar