Mercedes currently holds a diminished status as a top Formula 1 team, as observed by former Grand Prix victor Ralf Schumacher.
During the initial period of the 'hybrid' regulations from 2014 to 2021, the German team was the uncontested leader in Formula 1. However, they have faced three years of disappointing performances under the latest regulations, leading to the upcoming departure of Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari in 2025.
Yet, Schumacher suggests to Sport Bild that not all the blame for the downturn can be placed on Mercedes.
"Obviously he's no longer the youngest," remarked the ex-Williams and Toyota driver, referring to Hamilton, "and it shows. Like many older drivers, he no longer seems to engage with the car and adapt his driving style."
Schumacher believes that 39-year-old Hamilton's exit might actually benefit Mercedes.
"As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean," he commented. "It seems as if a little trust has been lost over time, but now we'll see who gets that cockpit."
This week at Imola, Toto Wolff's young protégé Kimi Antonelli has been testing the 2022 Mercedes car, which first showed the signs of the team's decline.
"Only partially," Schumacher stated to Sport Bild when asked about Mercedes' status as an ongoing top team.
"They have one of the best, if not the best, engines in Formula 1. And yet they are not capable of winning because there are problems in other areas such as aerodynamics. That's why their customer teams like McLaren are currently beating them.
"This is not the fault of Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius," Ralf added. "It's Toto Wolff's responsibility to ensure that everything is working."
Upcoming car upgrades will be revealed by Mercedes this weekend in Miami, although Wolff himself does not seem very hopeful.
"We don't really know what to expect because it's been a tricky season so far," he stated at a promotional event in New York. "Let's see what the stopwatch says."
When questioned whether it's too early to write off Mercedes, Schumacher concurred: "That will become clear when the team makes the first improvements to the car in Miami.
"But slowly, you lose faith and trust that they really know what they're doing. It starts with the development of the car but it's also about the strategy in the races and other things.
"Mercedes is in a very critical situation," the 48-year-old elaborated. "We've often seen dominant teams that lost their way and couldn't find their way back."
Despite the ongoing internal issues at Red Bull, it seems improbable that Max Verstappen would be eager to accept Toto Wolff's offer for a 2025 cockpit.
"It depends how the power struggle at Red Bull develops," said Schumacher, "but Mercedes is still an attractive alternative and possibly the best one.
"Toto Wolff can offer him a princely salary, but also lucrative contracts for the time after his career. Mercedes' engine helps as well, but the immediate sporting perspective will be even more important for Verstappen."
