Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes AMG F1 W15 has been causing frustration for Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The 2024 Formula 1 car has shown inconsistent performance, leading Marko to feel “irritated”. Mercedes had high hopes for their revamped car, but they have had their worst start to a season since 2011, with only 52 points and no podium finishes in the first five races. While there have been moments of promise, Mercedes has struggled to maintain pace compared to their rivals. Marko expressed concern about the downward trend and questioned whether alarm bells should be ringing for Mercedes.
Marko acknowledged that the Mercedes car can be incredibly fast at times, but those moments are short-lived. He highlighted the frustration of seeing flashes of brilliance followed by underwhelming 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 then suffered a surprise elimination in Q1 and finished 18th. Hamilton attributed his struggles to a mistake at Turn 14 and an aggressive set-up configuration. Meanwhile, his teammate George Russell finished seventh, further indicating that Mercedes’ issues are not temporary.
Marko emphasized that Mercedes’ decline has been ongoing for three seasons, suggesting that 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 pursue a move to Ferrari.