Former Mercedes technical director: 'We could put pressure on Red Bull'

'Starting to get on the same level as Ferrari and Aston Martin'

In Mercedes' debrief video, James Alisson responds positively to the results in Melbourne: "I think overall a sense of quiet satisfaction that we have moved the car forward, that from a performance point of view we probably got as much as it is able to give right now."

Yet the feeling is still not quite right within the team, the former Silver Arrow director says: "That happiness of course is tempered by the disappointment that we only got one to the flag and George wasn't able to show what he was capable of in the car on race day having performed very strongly to that point in the weekend."

Lewis Hamilton' s second-place finish in Australia was the first podium of the season for the team that was so dominant before the rule changes. It is a small step forward, Alisson also sees: "We put a small amount on the leaders Red Bull and we are starting to get on terms with and maybe just nose a whisker in front of the Ferrari's and Aston Martin."