F1 pundit makes bold Mercedes 2024 prediction with ‘on a par’ claim

Mercedes introduced a new floor at the United States Grand Prix and enjoyed their most competitive showing of a difficult 2023 campaign as Lewis Hamilton finished just 2.2 seconds behind Max Verstappen. 

Although Hamilton was ultimately disqualified after his car failed post-race plank wear checks, ex-F1 driver Glock has seen enough from Mercedes over the weekend to suggest they are now heading in the right direction. 

And despite Red Bull’s advantage over the field, he feels Mercedes have enough knowledge and understanding to catch Red Bull over the winter. 

“Mercedes now understands the direction in which things need to go,” he wrote in his post-race column for Sky Deutschland.

“I think the car is simply more reminiscent of Red Bull and McLaren. It was clear to see that things are moving more and more in the right direction – even now with the update, which worked very well for Lewis Hamilton.

“That makes it all the more inexplicable to me why George Russell had such problems.

“But at Mercedes, they have learned enough to bring a car for next year that is on a par with Red Bull right from the start, and I’m very excited about that.

“Although it is also clear that Red Bull and all other teams are also developing further. So it’s always difficult when you fall behind.”

Seven-time world champion Hamilton said Mercedes’ latest upgrade had given him renewed confidence in the W14.