Paddoc🐷k gossip 💟has been shared that Mercedes might prove faster than expected in Bahrain.

Mercedes enter the season-opening F1 Bahrain Grand Prix expecting to be behind the dominant Red Bulls, while also seeing Ferrari improvemen😼ts through preseason teꦑsting.

But all may not appear as it seems.

Naomi Schiff said on Sky Sports: “The long run from Lewis Hamilton [in pr🍒eseason testing] has a few people in the paddoౠck talking.

“Their race pace looks promising.

“Obviously Ferrari’s was as well. That has been their Achilles heel and it looks like they’ve turned that arꦏound.

“There is more comꦰing from Mercedes than they’ve manage♓d to show.

“T✅here were secret nuggets that I’ve heard quite a few people in the paddock talking about.”

The front suspension and wishbone are the most nಌotable 🐻aspects of the W15, entering Bahrain.

Mercedes backed a totally neꦍw c🍸oncept for the 2024 F1 season after a terrible two-year period.

But Damon Hill has notic�🍬�ed something completely different about the W15’s preparation for the 2024 season.

“I think F☂errari are moreꩲ comfortable, more competitive,” Hill said.

“I think yo🦋u’d have heard more positive noises coming out of Mercedes than we have done, if they really thought that t๊hey’d nailed it.

“It’s okay getting rid of a spiteful rear end. That’s one♋ thing.

“But you have to see performance.

“I thought the Mercedes looked very difficult to drive, looking at🐽 some of the laps iꦏn testing.

“It seemed a rough ride, and it🦋 has seemed like that for a♓ long time.

“Wherea🍌s the Ferrari looked subtle. It might be borne out of its race run pace. It normally means a car is looking after its tyres.”