Mercedes sets the tone in Formula 1. Few believe that anything will change in the foreseeable future. Ex-Red Bull maker Helmut Marko says: Only if a “Star War 2.0” breaks out will McLaren, Ferrari and his former team have a chance.
Although Helmut Marko is only an attentive observer of Formula 1 and is no longer in the middle of the action week after week, the man from Graz knows very well that Mercedes will be very difficult to stop in the World Championship fight this year.
“Mercedes is clearly the strongest team, they have the best engine and also set the tone with the battery. For the first time since 2021, they have managed to build a competitive chassis, and they also have a strong driver pairing,” Marko listed the Silver Arrows’ big plus points in the “oe24” interview.
Marko: “… otherwise Mercedes will be gone”
Marko finds the fact that youngster Kimi Antonelli is currently ahead in the duel with George Russell “very refreshing,” as he said. But he hasn’t written off the British opponent from his own team yet. “Russell is the experienced one and he will fight back.”
If Marko has his way, an escalation of the team-internal duel at Mercedes will ultimately be the only chance for the competition. “The only hope is that they tear each other apart. Otherwise Mercedes will be gone,” he stated soberly.
Mercedes will “find it difficult” in Monaco
After all: the former Red Bull manager does not believe the Silver Arrows have the best chances for the upcoming glamor race in Monaco.
“They’ll have a hard time there, with the slow corners. I see Leclerc in front – he’s at home there and my favorite in qualifying. And whoever is in front in Monaco also wins the race,” said the man from Graz, looking ahead to the weekend in the principality.