What’s going on at Mercedes?

Mercedes are having a very mixed-up season. The car is quick in the right conditions, but the two sides of the garage have had remarkably different seasons.

Nico Rosberg is having the season of his life. Pole position and victory in China, second in Monaco, plus three other top 10 finishes mean he is fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, just 21 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton.

Michael Schumacher, on the other hand, is having the worst season of his illustrious career. In seven races, he has had five retirements, only one of which can be called his fault – he crashed out in Spain – and two tenth place finishes, meaning he has just two points to his name.

In Australia, Schumacher’s gearbox failed. China saw him retire with a loose wheel after a pitstop. His race ended early in Monaco with a fuel pressure problem. Yesterday in Canada, the DRS on his Mercedes stuck open, an unusual issue in any Formula One car.

What is happening to Mercedes? One side of the garage is doing well, the other side is struggling to make it to the chequered flag. As Formula One heads to Valencia for the European Grand Prix, it is time for Schumacher’s team to provide some explanations.