Chargement ...

Marko admits key mistake over Hamilton future

"I gave him some information that Lewis would be available"

Chargement ...

Dr Helmut Marko admits he made a fundamental mistake by advising Mercedes to sign Lewis Hamilton in late 2012.

The 79-year-old, a top official at Red Bull, told Sport Bild magazine that he gave his fellow Austrian Niki Lauda key information about Hamilton’s McLaren contract at a key moment in the now seven time world champion’s career.

"I gave him some information that Lewis would be available," Marko said. "Of course I was not being altruistic.

"At the time, we thought Lewis would be less of a threat to us at Mercedes than at McLaren, for whom he was driving at the time," he added.

"In retrospect, that was a complete misjudgement, although at the time it was really not foreseeable. But with the knowledge I have today, I would definitely not do that again."

Hamilton, now 38, has admitted that it was the late triple world champion Lauda’s personal interest in him signing up for 2013 and beyond that boosted his decision to leave McLaren.

"People told me to stay at McLaren - even my dad," the British driver says today.

Chargement ...

«French GP race rotation ’on the table’ - Alesi

Verstappen also regarded as ’impolite’ - Alonso»

Red Bull


>Perez led to constructors’ championship loss - Marko

>F1 drivers notice ’smell of weed’ in Las Vegas

>Red Bull rues lack of low-downforce wing in Vegas

>Verstappen backs away from Vegas, F1 launch criticisms

>Verstappen: In dry weather we still lack speed

More on Red Bull

Mercedes F1


>Wolff hints Bottas poised for Mercedes return

>Hamilton admits to Mercedes quit thoughts after Brazil

>Wolff admits Hamilton’s exit partly a relief

>Schumacher could also lose Mercedes reserve seat

>Bottas could be ’advisor’ to Mercedes’ Toto Wolff

More on Mercedes F1

Formula 1 news


>Germany lacks will for Formula 1 race - Wolff

>Perez led to constructors’ championship loss - Marko

>F1 drivers notice ’smell of weed’ in Las Vegas

>Wolff hints Bottas poised for Mercedes return

>Nyck de Vries could be new McLaren reserve

More Formula 1news