![\"Ross-Brown-1\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2012-rif-images\/f1-12-people\/Ross-Brown-1.jpg\")
After an up-and-down first test for the new silver W04, former double world champion Mika Hakkinen admitted he suspects the car is “not exactly up to the speed I expected them to be”.<\/p>\nIt is too early to say just how good the new Mercedes is, according to team boss Ross Brawn.<\/p>\n
After an up-and-down first test for the new silver W04, former double world champion Mika Hakkinen admitted he suspects the car is “not exactly up to the speed I expected them to be”.<\/p>\n
“I don’t see them competing too much this year,” the Finn is quoted by the Sun.<\/p>\n
When asked a similar question by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Mercedes team boss said his first impression of the performance of the W04 was “good”.<\/p>\n
“We still have work to do on the degradation of the tyres.\u00a0 But the problem is that Jerez in the winter is not very representative,” added the Briton.<\/p>\n
“The numbers are promising.\u00a0 The downforce is as the wind tunnel predicted, as is the behaviour of the car.”<\/p>\n
Asked if the team will have to wait until Barcelona to know exactly how the W04 is shaping up, Brawn answered: “Maybe later.<\/p>\n
“It can also be very cool in Barcelona.\u00a0 We will probably only be able to say in Australia and Malaysia.”<\/p>\n
Brawn also confirmed that – with top technical minds including Aldo Costa, Bob Bell and Geoff Willis all now working for Mercedes – the team already has a design team working exclusively on the 2014 car.<\/p>\n
“Ferrari announced a while ago that they have two teams working on the 2013 and 2014 cars and that is what we have also done,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We have even gone so far that we have selected the most promising of several concept proposals.<\/p>\n
“The transition (of development between the 2013 and 2014 projects) will be smooth, not from one day to the other.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, with Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff shaking up Mercedes’ management amid rumours McLaren’s Paddy Lowe is being courted, Brawn insisted his top job is actually not in danger.<\/p>\n
“I am settled,” he is quoted by the Mirror.\u00a0 “I have got no problems.”<\/p>\n
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