Mercedes must not “give up” on recovery before F1 2026 rules reset

Mercedes has long since decided to ditch its ‘size-zero’ sidepod car architecture for the 2024 season, for which it will converge around the downwash solution used by the rest of the grid.

This will leave the eight-time constructors’ champion to play catch-up to Red Bull, which has already had two seasons to develop its own optimum take on the ground-effects regulations.

Despite its main rival enjoying a head start, Mercedes motorsport…