Ex Red Bull advisor Marko ATTACKS Lewis Hamilton …
The Formula 1 paddock is buzzing following a stinging assessment from former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who has publicly questioned Lewis Hamilton’s current form and motivation. Speaking after a dramatic Japanese Grand Prix weekend, the 82-year-old Austrian did not hold back, suggesting the seven-time World Champion is struggling to keep pace with the “new generation” at Ferrari.
Despite Hamilton securing a long-awaited podium in China just weeks ago, his performance at the high-speed Suzuka circuit left many critics Marko included unimpressed. While Charles Leclerc fought his way to a podium finish, Hamilton found himself mired in the midfield, eventually trailing both his teammate and the Mercedes of George Russell.
“The Motivation is Ebbing Away”
In a candid interview with Kleine Zeitung, Marko pointed to the qualifying gap between the Ferrari duo as a sign of deeper issues.
“In Japan, Lewis was outclassed by Leclerc all weekend,” Marko stated bluntly. “We saw this coming. One is a multiple world champion at the end of a long career, and the other is a young lion who is arguably the best qualifier in the sport. If Lewis cannot find those three or four tenths on a Saturday, he will find himself starting in the traffic, and that is where his motivation begins to drop.”
Marko’s comments highlight a growing narrative in the 2026 season: whether Hamilton’s high-stakes move to the Prancing Horse is yielding the results he envisioned. While Ferrari has emerged as the primary challenger to a dominant Mercedes squad, the internal battle in Maranello is proving to be a “psychological hurdle” for the Briton.
A Season of Turmoil
The 2026 season has already been defined by unpredictability. With the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to regional safety concerns, teams have had limited track time to master the radical new power unit regulations.
Red Bull, struggling with their own technical transition, has seen Max Verstappen voice similar frustrations regarding the sport’s direction. However, Marko was quick to differentiate between Verstappen’s “technical dissatisfaction” and Hamilton’s “performance deficit.”
“Max is frustrated because the cars are too dependent on battery deployment and software,” Marko explained. “But with Lewis, it feels more personal. He chose this challenge at Ferrari of his own free will, but if he sees no realistic chance of winning, the fire seems to dim.”
