Mika Hakkinen believes Mercedes are currently 'at a crossroads', with only one win in two seasons having 'left a mark' on the team.
Mercedes finished second in the constructors' championship after a close battle with Ferrari throughout 2023, but was unable to beat Red Bull on Sunday as the team won 21 of 22 races last season.
'Flying Finn' believes Mercedes 'must become a team again' in the new year after two seasons of low standards.
Mercedes is currently 'at a crossroads' – Mika Hakkinen
While the team is working hard behind the scenes in W15, two-time world champion Hakkinen believes there are “question marks” hanging over them until they get back to winning ways.
“Mercedes is at a crossroads,” Hakkinen argued to German publication BILD.
“There are bigger question marks around the team than there have been in a long time. After 10 years of success, the last two seasons have left their mark on the management and staff, and that's a good thing!
“You have to be angry now. You have to develop the unconditional will to win again. The team has to become a team again and develop this blind understanding. Hmm. It's currently missing.”
When asked how he feels this is missing from the current team, Hakkinen believes Mercedes still has the seven-time world champion at its core.
“George is in his third season as a Mercedes driver and it's clear that it's Lewis' team,” he explained.
“He has been driving there since 2013 and has worked with many of the engineers and mechanics over the years.
“It takes him less than 10 minutes to explain the problem. In F1, little things like this ultimately decide whether you get pole position or not.”
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Hakkinen recalled the fact that Russell beat Hamilton in his first season, but also pointed out that the tables were turned in 2023.
Both drivers have new contracts with the team until 2025, but he believes the young British driver is under “immense pressure” to perform alongside Hamilton.
“That's true,” he said, recalling Russell's performance against Hamilton in 2022. “But last season, Hamilton finished third and Russell only eighth. That didn't surprise me.
“On the one hand, Lewis wanted to show everyone after the story about Twilight of the Gods had already been told, but on the other hand, George was and is under immense pressure.
“When you're a teammate of a seven-time world champion, all the eyes are automatically on you. If your teammate wins, it doesn't matter if you're on the podium or not.
“It's the same for any team, but George is racing a record-breaking champion.”
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