Mercedes expresses regret and disappointment in open letter to fans

Mercedes have released an open letter to their fans following their disappointing showing at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The letter, signed by the team, acknowledges the pain felt by fans after the team's poor performance, and highlights the determination of everyone at Mercedes to turn things around.

"We know it hurt you, our fans, too. Your passion and support are so important in driving us forward – and we know that we feel the same pain," the letter reads.

"The situation we face right now isn’t the one that any of us wanted – but it’s the one we have. That’s the reality of it. And the simple questions are: what can we do about it, and what will we do about it?"

The letter goes on to assure fans that the team will not panic or make knee-jerk reactions, and that they are working urgently and calmly to build their recovery plan, focusing on what needs to happen short term, medium term, and long term to win.

"We already have developments in the pipeline for the next races – and there will be more to come. But this won’t be the work of a moment; there are no silver bullets in F1," the letter states.

The team also stresses the importance of unity and character in the face of adversity, saying that they are "together through thick and thin" and that they are "calling on each one of you, too, to power us to the front."

The letter concludes with a call to action for fans to join the team in the fight back. "Are you ready to join us for the fight back? If not, then there are no hard feelings. If yes, then let’s do this," it says.

It's clear that Mercedes are taking their disappointing start to the season seriously, but are determined to stay focused and work towards improving their performance.

As they have shown in the past, the team has the ability to bounce back from setbacks, and with the support of their fans, they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the coming seasons.