Ralf Schumacher sees a battle between Red Bull and Mercedes for the 2023 F1 championship

Ralf Schumacher, younger brother of the legend Michael Schumacher, believes that Toto Wolff’s team should not be taken lightly in the title race: “Mercedes should be on our minds. They managed to bring their car back into the battle, without testing, and have identified their weaknesses. They also have a very strong pair of drivers,” he declares on Sky Sport.

However, the former F1 driver recalls that the German team has lost some of its glory compared to its glorious years: « Only one victory, it was a disappointing comeback compared to the standards set by Mercedes during the hybrid turbo era, after winning eight constructor titles ».

Mercedes, who launched the W14 on Wednesday at Silverstone, with a completely black livery that recalls one of its most dominant seasons in 2020 and the thrilling battle for the title the following year, the team is looking for a way to return to the front.

Ralf Schumacher in his 2023 predictions declares that « The thorn [for Mercedes] will be Red Bull with Max Verstappen. There is no doubt about it. They are the team to beat. » Indeed, after the last season marked by the dominance of the Red Bull team, it is difficult to find other favorites for the world championship title.

When journalists ask him for his opinion on Ferrari, the German remains puzzled. Ferrari is always a bit of a surprise. It can be really strong sometimes. However, it must be said that both drivers have made a lot of mistakes. The team has also made mistakes. There are deficits there.

The Schumacher and F1, a long history

Ralf Schumacher’s nephew, Mick, has joined Mercedes as a reserve driver after leaving Haas at the end of 2022, as part of an agreement that also makes him available as a reserve driver at McLaren for the upcoming year. The former Williams driver believes that young Schumacher is a good fit for Mercedes at this time.

For the teams, it’s great to have someone like Mick. He has good experience, he knows the tracks. It’s also a good opportunity for him. With four available spots [possible in FP1 for Mercedes and McLaren], he has a greater chance of driving.

This last one clearly said that he is looking to return to the grid as soon as possible, preferably in 2024 and the possibilities are real. Nyck de Vries, who was a reserve driver last year, has now found a seat at AlphaTauri.