Marko takes jab at Mercedes after intimate Antonelli revelation in Spa hotel

19:53, 01 Aug

byNorberto Mujica

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been enduring a rather woeful second part of the first half of the F1 season. Helmut Marko has revealed the Mercedes rookie confided in him with his issues coming to grips at Mercedes.

Speaking to F1 Insider, Marko revealed that a conversation had taken place between the youngster and himself in Spa-Francorchamps.

However, the intricate details of the discussion the Austrian does not dare share.

"I don’t want to make any outside comments on how things work for any other team," Marko said.

Regarding Antonelli, the 81-year old Austrian added: "Antonelli is certainly very fast, but also a very young driver.”

Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished FP2 in Hungary in P10

Antonelli spills the beans to Marko in Belgium

“Strangely enough, we spoke briefly in the hotel at Spa, and he said that he has no confidence in the car. As soon as he pushes, he no longer has control."

Marko assesses the young Italian's woes as a mental issue more than anything, making a 'Mercedes like Red Bull Racing' comparison.

“It’s more of a mental thing, and it seems that [with] his car, like ours, it’s very critical to be in the working window. When it does work, it’s much more potent, and of course a driver like Russell does it much more easily."

The Austrian, of course, did not forget the German team in a last minute jab. “Mercedes, thank goodness, don’t have the luxury of a second team,” he concluded.