Marco: Leclair was much faster than Hamilton in the tests.

      According to the results of the pre-season tests, Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko concluded that at the moment Lewis Hamilton is inferior to Charles Leclair. According to Marco, it is critically important for the seven-time world champion to compete at the level of a Ferrari teammate in the first qualifiers of the season, but it will not be easy to do so.

      Helmut Marko: "In Bahrain, Leclair was much faster than his team-mate, but that's okay because he knows the team and knows the car. Hamilton drove a lot of laps, gradually improved his results, but was not at Leclair's level.

      The first race of the season is ahead, and we know Lewis. If the car suits him, he will add incredibly quickly. He is a multiple world champion, while his teammate is only striving for his first title. But Leclair is one of the best drivers in qualifying, and with such a density of results, a difference of three to four tenths in qualifying can turn into a difference of three to five places on the starting grid. And we know very well how difficult it is to overtake.

      From this point of view, it is critically important for Hamilton to have the first qualifiers of the season at Leclair's level. However, it will not be easy for Lewis to do this.

      Hamilton joined Ferrari on his own initiative. He was looking for a new challenge and, I believe, will do everything possible to make his expectations come true. But if circumstances are against him and he has no chance of winning, he will lose some of his motivation."