Marko saw one man excel at Silverstone: 'That was incredible'

Mercedes seem to have made considerable strides in the current Formula 1 season. In the first races of the season, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were barely able to fight against with Max Verstappen, but recent races have shown that Mercedes are indeed competition for Red Bull, according to Helmut Marko, the Red Bull advisor.

Hamilton did not win an F1 race for 2.5 years, but that changed at Silverstone last weekend. Asked about the seven-time Formula One world champion, Marko sprinkled compliments. "Because he drove a sensational race. The way he saved the soft tyre over the distance was incredible," he told Austrian OE24.

Hamilton will switch to Ferrari next season, making the British Grand Prix his last one in a Mercedes. Partly for this reason, the Stevenage-based driver was sobbing behind the wheel after his victory last weekend. Hamilton's switch also came up during Marko's interview.

The Red Bull man was also asked whether Hamilton's choice to move to Ferrari was a bad choice. "I cannot judge that. That will also be exciting. Ferrari have lost an important man in chassis boss Cardile. Let's wait and see what happens with Adrian Newey. He has some top offers, including from the UK, and can decide for himself where he wants to go," Marko said.