Mercedes is emerging as a surprise contender to take on world champions Red Bull in 2013. With McLaren and Ferrari perhaps slightly off the ultimate pace in winter testing, most pundits were looking to Lotus to take the fight to Red Bull this year. But Jenson Button said in Barcelona on Friday: "The one team that has been consistently quick has been Mercedes more than anyone else." Michael Schmidt, the respected correspondent for Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, agrees that the silver-clad team has "stunned the competition" with its pace at the final Barcelona test this week. Meanwhile, Mercedes is one of the teams that has been experimenting with the allowed 'passive...
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