Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes the team’s current standing is a consequence of the recent struggles seeing it lose out in a “relative game” to its Formula 1 rivals.
The German marque’s woes continued last weekend in China as George Russell finished sixth and Lewis Hamilton recovered from a Q1 elimination to salvage ninth.
Russell wound up 25 seconds behind McLaren’s Lando Norris in second position, with Mercedes now 44 points behind the Woking-based squad in the championship.
Wolff has noted that Mercedes hasn’t regressed pace-wise with its revised W15 car but rather the competition has forged larger gains than the eight-time champions.
“I think the cars were difficult all along these last two years,” he said. “The advantage that we had is that McLaren was not racing us for most of let’s say first half of the last season.
“So they weren’t that competitive, Ferrari wasn’t as quick and dropped the ball on several occasions. That’s why we were regular podium contenders, and closest to Red Bull.
“Now that this team [McLaren] has picked up the performance levels, this is a relative game.
“And suddenly what was good enough for third last year is just good enough for sixth. And that’s why it’s tough for the car, it’s as difficult as it has been in the past.
“Tricky for the drivers, George yesterday when we discussed it, it was the most tricky qualifying car that he’s had so far. So overall, in a way, same symptoms, same.”
Wolff has revealed Mercedes will have upgrades arriving at the next round in Miami, which he is hopeful will materialise into a marked step forward in competitiveness.
“I think the car is a difficult car, a difficult car to set-up and a difficult car to drive,” he added. “And that’s why you have these oscillations in performances, in my opinion.
“And I think where Lewis’ car was today was certainly far away from the optimal, it’s just driving on the knife’s edge.
“So what is it? This is this is where we are. Let’s say for Miami, we are bringing some new bits which is interesting to see how they’re going to perform on the car.”
