Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes the absence of Niki Lauda is hurting Mercedes.
The legend triple world champion has been non-executive chairman at the Brackley-based team since 2012 with his knowledge and experience considered crucial to the current setup.
However, Lauda hasn’t been seen since a lung transplant last summer and efforts to return to the paddock in Australia were set back by contracting the flu in January.
“Looking in from the outside, Niki’s absence is felt,” Horner told the Daily Mail. “Niki would be missed even more if it was a close fight for the title. He was there partly as a crutch for Toto [Wolff] to lean on.
“So the team will be weaker without Niki having a direct involvement for now.”
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In other matters, the Briton also thinks another stalwart of the sport over the past 40 years would be well-placed to step in and help break the deadlock regarding a new Concorde Agreement in 2021.
“[F1 CEO] Chase [Carey] has a task similar to Theresa May’s with Brexit: no deal will suit everyone, and the clock is ticking,” Horner claimed.
“Bernie [Ecclestone] was a dictator and that, in some respects, is what this sport needs.”
The Red Bull chief was once linked with eventually succeeding the 88-year-old and despite having being moved aside in 2017, Ecclestone is still a key figure watching from afar.
“You never know with him. Maybe one day he will buy the sport back,” Horner suggested. “He is still in good shape. He stays close to the teams, the promoters, governments.
“Liberty has addressed the areas where he was weak – future technologies and digital media, but in terms of negotiating a deal, there is no better person than Bernard Charles.”