The Formula 1 car from Mercedes AMG driven by Lewis Hamilton has been causing frustration for Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The 2024 car has shown inconsistent performance, leading Marko to feel “irritated”. Mercedes had high hopes for their revamped car, but had their worst start to a season since 2011, with only 52 points and no podium finishes in the first five races. Although there have been promising moments, Mercedes has struggled to keep up with their rivals. Marko expressed concern about the downward trend and questioned whether alarms should be ringing for Mercedes.
Marko acknowledged that the Mercedes car can be incredibly fast at times, but these moments are fleeting. He highlighted the frustration of seeing flashes of brilliance followed by disappointing performances. This inconsistency was evident in the recent Chinese Grand Prix, where Hamilton took advantage of wet conditions to qualify second for the Sprint race. However, he suffered a surprising elimination in Q1 and finished in 18th place. Hamilton attributed his difficulties to an error in Turn 14 and an aggressive setup. Meanwhile, his teammate George Russell finished seventh, further indicating that Mercedes’ problems are not temporary.
Marko emphasized that Mercedes’ decline has been continuous for three seasons, suggesting it is not a sudden development. This long-term struggle is concerning for the team. Hamilton, who joined Mercedes in 2013, is experiencing his worst season with the team. However, he has already announced his departure from Mercedes at the end of the season to seek a move to Ferrari.
