Damon Hill already openly doubted the Mercedes engineers by stating that the W13 and W14 were particularly substandard in terms of aerodynamics (compared to, say, a Red Bull). Even colleague
Ted Kravitz does not seem 100 per cent convinced that Mercedes will again be competing for wins and the world title from 2024 onwards.
Cowell - former head of the engine division - left Mercedes after the 2020 season, Vowles started as team boss at
Williams this year, and Costa has been gone for several years. On top of that, Mike Elliott also left just before the
Brazilian Grand Prix.
"And I'm just wondering, like all dream teams change, whether there is some transformation about this team, and whether they're going through a bit of a change and whether that dream team ethic and quality can survive next year? Lewis Hamilton believes they can, so I think we have to believe they can as well, but that's going to be a challenge going forward," the
Sky Sports pit reporter said on his own programme
Ted's Notebook.