Red Bull has taken over Mercedes' position as the dominant force in F1 since the 2022 regulations change to ground-effect based cars, with Max Verstappen an overwhelming favourite to grab his third consecutive world drivers' championship this year.
Mercedes dropped the ball with its 2022 car and has since been working its way back in contention, with a concept change of its 2023 car offering hope that it has finally turned the page.
And while that downturn in form has been repeatedly described as painful and humbling by team principal Toto Wolff, technical director James Allison opened up on how that chase can also be exhilarating with an adjusted mindset.
"We're all going to feel a bit miffed about [not being competitive], even though that sort of unhappiness we see every time they win is offset hugely by the fact that it is thrilling in its own way to be fighting back, to be improving our car week-on-week," said Allison, who has returned to the technical director role after a job swap with successor Mike Elliott, now the team's chief technical officer.
"They don't have a God-given right to be in the lead, they're there by merit, having worked really well. If we can do as good or better job, we’ll be there and that is actually a lot of fun.
"It’s a very, very exhilarating thought once you frame it correctly in your head, and something that we're all tucked into trying to make a reality."
Mercedes' spirits were lifted by a double podium in the Spanish Grand Prix, which proved the clearest example that its new floor, sidepod and suspension designs have given it a better baseline to challenger Red Bull with.
Source: Autosport