Mika Hakkinen, former Formula 1 driver and two-time world champion, shared his predictions ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix…
Mika Hakkinen: “Despite the problems with the W14, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell lifted the team to third in the championship, now Mercedes is just nine points behind Aston Martin. Toto Wolff is doing everything he can to get the team back to the top and while Red Bull Racing is out of reach for the time being, a second place finish at the end of the season is quite possible.
It would be a good result for a team that has already undergone some changes, including the return of James Ellison as technical director. In Melbourne, George Russell was unlucky – stopping the race with red flags ruined his strategy. Max Verstappen would probably have won the race anyway thanks to his car’s superiority, but if Mercedes manage to consistently climb the podium, 2023 won’t be a disaster for them.
Ferrari is fourth in the constructors’ championship and Charles Leclerc is only tenth in the individual standings. This is a problem for the team and for Charles. Ferrari was the fastest car in qualifying last year, but progress from Red Bull Racing, Aston Martin and Mercedes has made it difficult for the team to start the season. Will Ferrari be able to add? Hopefully the break after Melbourne will help them get more out of the car.
The track in Baku does not forgive mistakes and has caused surprises more than once in the past. Saturday’s sprint will further complicate the situation. Given the high risk of accidents, a non-Red Bull Racing driver could win the race on Sunday. For example Fernando Alonso or George Russell.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
