Pre-season testing in Bahrain hasn’t been plain-sailing for Mercedes, with a hydraulic issue curtailing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell’s running on day two.

That wasn’t the only issue for Mercedes, who identified a “loss o🐻f downforce” which the𓆉y couldn’t explain.

Day three went better though, with Russell and Hamilton showing b♛etter pace on the softer tyres.

• “We realise we have a mountain t💛o climb” - Hamilton downbeat⛎ after F1 testing

The pecking order going🌌 into Bahrain is still unclear, however, many have tipped Red Bull to have a significan൩t advantage.

Ferrari look set to be their nearest challengers, while Mercedes should beﷺ the third-fastest team.

With Hamilton still ﷽eyeing a record-breaking eighth world title, Croft believes Mercedes’ form coꦕuld be a cause for concern.

“There will be a lot of questions,” Croft said. “And if you’re Lewi𒐪s Hamilton and his team, you have a great relationship with Mercedes, but you do want that 🍸eighth World Championship

“And you’re going to want reassurance😼s that what might have been a blip last year isn’t going to turn into something more long term, and a car this year that is equally as problematic as the W13 was.”

McLaren also struggled during testing, meaning it could be another difficult season for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris.

• Hamilton: Merceܫdes' 2023 Fꦉ1 car still has "limitations"

Croft suggested that Norris might have to lo⛎ok elsewhere with M꧙cLaren likely to struggle again.

“I think he might be because the story I think of the test so far, and McLaren were playing down expectat🌊ions before we came to Bahrain, the story is McLaren might just have slipped back even furt𝓰her as we start the season,” he added. “That’s a worry for Lando.”