Formula 1 news: Top engineer backs Mercedes to recover after disappointing display in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

Formula 1 technical consultant Rob Smedley has backed Mercedes to join Ferrari and Red Bull in the hunt for race wins sooner rather than later, despite their sluggish start to 2022. It has been a season of disappointment thus far for Mercedes, with team principal Toto Wolff bemoaning their “totally unacceptable” current performance.

Ad/> In the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes were fortunate that a double Red Bull retirement late on in the race led to Lewis Hamilton taking third place, just ahead of team-mate George Russell. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix‘I felt for Lewis’ — Ricciardo opens up on 2021 F1 title controversy3 HOURS AGO The Silver Arrows, who have won eight constructors' titles in succession, fared little better in Saudi Arabia, with Hamilton knocked out in Q1 before recovering to take 10th place in the race.

Russell finished fourth in Jeddah, with both drivers admitting that they couldn’t see a way that Mercedes would challenge for wins in the near future. Their early-season woes are a far cry from Ferrari, who currently hold a sizeable lead at the top of the constructors' standings.

Charles Leclerc won the opening race in Abu Dhabi before being edged out after a magnificent duel with Max Verstappen in Saudi Arabia, while team-mate Carlos Sainz has recorded back-to-back podiums. Smedley, who previously worked with Ferrari and Williams, is confident that Mercedes’ tribulations will only be temporary, as they prepare to return to the track this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix.