Dr Helmut Marko admits he isn’t too impressed with Mercedes’ radical ‘no sidepod’ upgrade for its 2022 car. “What Mercedes has brought looks revolutionary,” said the 78-year-old Austrian. “And I say – the main thing is that we’re the fastest again. But I also remember last year, when Mercedes was also behind in the tests.”. With those updates, Dutchman and new world champion Max Verstappen finished the test with the fastest time – but, like Marko, he questions just how much Mercedes is struggling. Carlos Sainz, at the wheel of the impressive 2022 Ferrari, agrees with Verstappen that he doesn’t believe “for a second” that Mercedes is struggling.

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