Mercedes places Haas as potential surprise in 2018

A new time, Mercedes should fight at the forefront with Ferrari et Red Bull in 2018. The world champions believe that the hierarchy for podium places should remain roughly the same as last year.

“It is obvious that Red Bull and Ferrari will be there, comments Hamilton. Last year, they were among the top teams, and they will be this year with us. ». But questioned in a video on the website of the F1 on a potential surprise team this year, the reigning world champion mentioned « Haas ».

A choice supported by Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. “According to our statistical data, they look pretty fast. But then again, if someone is 20 kg lighter, that's eight tenths of a difference, However, underlines the boss of the star team.

I really hope they will be there. They deserve it. Gene Haas took risks. He's a real entrepreneur. Gunther (Steiner, Team Principal) give everything. He is a good operational manager. He knows what he's doing. »

In the American clan, the objective stated by Gene Haas was to gain one second compared to 2017, and above all try to get back to half a second on the Ferrari lap.

The Kannapolis (North Carolina) team shares a number of mechanical elements with the Italian team, notably the Italian Power Unit which performed very well in 2017.