During an unprecedented eight-year streak of Formula 1 titles, Mercedes crushed their competition and were scarcely not in contention for a victory in any of the 160 races from 2014 through to the end of the 2021. While a new era of F1 for 2022 brought much-changed cars and rules, it was that dominance which made them the clear favourites for this year. But the two thrilling races to start the new season have had a notable, almost unthinkable, silver absentee from the front, while Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have already endured a humiliating Q1 exit in qualifying and already admit they are "a long way off" rivals Ferrari and Red Bull. Verstappen, Leclerc and the curious case of...
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