Back to the Auto Racing Newsfeed

Is the Ferrari/Mercedes battle over after just five rounds?

BARCELONA, Spain -- One question kept cropping up during the post-race media sessions at the Spanish Grand Prix: After five consecutive one-two victories, can Mercedes win all 21 races this season?

The question would have been laughed out of the very same paddock three months ago during pre-season testing, but on Sunday evening it was taken seriously.

McLaren came closest to a 100 percent win record during the 1988 season after scoring 15 victories from 16 rounds. The dramatic intra-team battle between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost meant the season went down in the record books as an instant classic, but the thought of living through the next 16 races with Mercedes winning every weekend seems rather less appealing.