In 2021, nothing is the same. We cant go out like we used to, and it almost seems as if things will never return to normal. But one thing we always thought wouldn't change, was Mercedes' domination over the F1 grid. Over the past 7 years, we've seen, heard, and witnessed nothing but Mercedes domination. Save one tumultuous season in 2017, it's never looked like any other team's had a shot at even overtaking Mercedes. 

Flash forward to 2021. At the end of three days of rigorous testing, the score sheets have stacked up unfavorably for Mercedes. The once infallible Arrows have bent in the direction of disaster. Despite claims of sandbagging, the real concern for Mercedes has been mechanical reliability. On the first day a gearbox issue took Bottas out of the morning session. Uncharacteristic driver error continued to plague their second and third days. 

Of all the teams on the grid, is it Mercedes who have over-invested for 2022? It seems the only rational explanation. Mercedes know how to build a good race-car. No team in F1 history has won as frequently, or as consistently as Mercedes has over these past 7 years. The only explanation could be, they drew too many of their key personnel towards 2022. And who could blame them? Daimler have invested upwards of $300 million annually to keep their team at the forefront of F1's best teams. If it all faded away into midfield mediocrity now, what would it all have been for? Daimler are dead-set on maintaining the image of Mercedes as a race-winning car manufacturer. Money be damned, they're gunning for the title. 

The real question Mercedes' struggles raise is: will it be an engine-wide issue? Much like Ferrari experienced in 2020. Newly minted McLaren-Mercedes were flying in pre-season testing. Finishing high up the time table in any session they felt like. Similarly, Williams seem to have made leaps and bounds over their 2020 machinery. That being said, any significant gains being felt are likely to come from the wildly inferior chassis package. Aston Martin have also produced a Mercedes-esque car for 2021. If the Silver Arrows struggle, it seems like almost destiny that the Green Machine would too. Overall, Mercedes are in an unusual position for 2021. It's the first time in years they haven't topped the pre-season testing lap counts, and with 2022 on the horizon, it's unclear how much ground they'll be able to make up over the course of the season. Whatever happens, Max Verstappen will be waiting in the wings.