Must feel weird for Mercedes, they are 2nd in the constructors championship and 2nd in the drivers championship and yet have looked some way off actually being the 2nd best team. Red Bull could have seriously ****** up if their technical problems continue through the year, it's been quite a while since a driver and team has been taken out of contention largely because of mechanical failures alone. Good to see Ferrari back in contention, I didn't like them much during the Schumacher era and their dodgy deal with their fuel system some time back but always good having another team in contention and even leading.
Sainz just doesn't seem to be delivering on expectation. Maybe he's been unlucky and it will level out over the year but at the moment, Perez feels like the stronger 2nd driver.
I would absolutely love it if Mercedes and another team (for me, I'd like McLaren) can at least start snapping at the heels of Ferrari and RB. That could make this season so much better. It's also interesting looking at the grid how so few drivers retire at the top. You have Vettel right at the back, Alonso competing but mostly upper midfield and last year Raikkonnen sat around the back. For all the hate he gets, Hamilton is one of the few drivers who has kept in contention right up to the point where he retires (can't seem him sticking around beyond this year). Very few drivers fall out of grace and then come back into it (Hamilton again being one of these).
Short of Leclerc suffering DNFs too or some other serious reversal in fortune, he looks like a good bet this season.
