Hakkinen: 'The design of the Mercedes is not working in several areas'

Despite the underperforming W13, many people refuse to rule out Mercedes as a title contender at this early stage of the Formula One season. After four races, the team will have to face that reality anyway, as Mika Hakkinen points out in his column for Unibet.

The reigning constructors' champions insist that the potential is there, but the ongoing problems plaguing the team mean that it is not coming out as yet. "Mercedes clearly has quite complex problems with their car," says Hakkinen. "It seems amazing to say it, but the World Championships are already looking out of reach."

The season may still be long, but given the very strong performance of Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, the German racing stable must come up with something miraculous to catch up. Hakkinen continues to marvel at the poor form of the team, which reached a new low in Imola.

The two-time world champion points to the fact that both Mercedes cars failed to reach Q3 in qualifying as an example, something that has not happened in ten years. "Clearly the car design is not working in several areas," he says.

The former McLaren driver also points to another embarrassing moment for Mercedes. "To see Lewis Hamilton being lapped by Max Verstappen after 41 laps shows what a difficult time he and the team are having," concluded Hakkinen.