Marko outlines gloomy scenario for Mercedes: "Then it will be difficult"
F1 News
- GPblog.com
While the opening weekend in Bahrain went smoothly for Red Bull Racing, things were a lot more difficult at Mercedes. Helmut Marko is surprised that Toto Wolff's team stuck to the problematic W13 concept and judges that the world title is already out of reach for the German team.
Marko surprised by Mercedes choice
Red Bull already had a rock-solid car in the 2022 Formula 1 season with the RB18, but the team managed to make its successor even better over the winter period. "We have eliminated the few weaknesses we had," Marko said in conversation with Sport.de. Meanwhile, he sees Ferrari still struggling with "immensely high tyre wear".
For Mercedes, the Red Bull advisor outlines an even bleaker scenario. Marko sees 'not one problem, but several' in the W14's concept, and he stresses that the German team did not find the solution during the winter break. That Mercedes still chose to stick with the concept that caused the team so many problems, Marko calls "surprising".
According to the 79-year-old Austrian, the budget ceiling ensures that Mercedes cannot simply change course. "You are simply limited in your options. You cannot design two or three vehicles. If a completely new vehicle comes along now, it will be difficult from the financial constraints," Marko judges.
Moreover, he thinks that once Mercedes comes up with a new concept, it will not be competitive overnight. Due to the precious time the team of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell has now lost in the winter test and the Bahrain Grand Prix, Marko reaches a rock-solid conclusion: "In that respect, I think it is realistic to say that the world title is out of reach for Mercedes," said the Red Bull chief.