Brawn predicts tough season

Brawn: Played down title chances

There is a lot of hard work ahead to ensure we will be in the fight for the title.

Ross Brawn
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Mercedes team principal coy about title chances

Mercedes GP team principal Ross Brawn admits his team have their work cut out if they are to defend the Formula One titles this season.

Of the four teams expected to do well in the opening grand prix in Bahrain on Sunday and ultimately this year's championships, Mercedes remain doubtful about their chances of success.

Michael Schumacher, returning from retirement to drive for the outfit, has not appeared confident that Mercedes will be a genuine contender in the build up to the season opener.

Speculation

However, with speculation rife that the team will deliver a major upgrade for Sakhir, the silver arrows' first return to the grid in 55 years could be a successful one.

Brawn, though, who secured both titles in 2009 with his own team ahead of Mercedes' takeover, has been reserved in his opinion of whether the outfit can emulate last season's performance.

"Everyone at the team is proud to be representing the rich motorsport pedigree of Mercedes-Benz as we start the season as the first Mercedes works team for over half a century," said Brawn.

"In addition, knowing we go into the new season as the reigning world champions gives the team confidence and a fierce pride to defend our position.

"However, this is a new season and a new challenge.

"We had a strong pre-season testing programme with the car, but we have not quite reached the level of preparation we would have liked prior to Bahrain.

"The car shows promise and we have a strong development programme planned for the season, but there is a lot of hard work ahead to ensure we will be in the fight for the title."

Dominant

Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has echoed Brawn's sentiment that the team may not be a dominant force in the opening races of the season.

"Judging our competitiveness for the first couple of races, my impression is we are not quite where we want to be and I would not see our team in the role of favourites," said Haug.

"Having said that, I am fully convinced the whole team and our drivers Nico (Rosberg) and Michael are fully prepared to get on top of our job and fulfil our targets which are winning races and fighting for world championships."