Mercedes are at a “crossꦦroads” and two bad years have ☂“left their mark” on staff, claims Mika Hakkinen.

News that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025 mean🅠s that Mercedes enter this F1 season under a cloud.

With just one grand prix win in two years (via Georg🏅e Russell in 2022), Toto Wolff’s team’s p🐭reparation for the upcoming season is in a state of flux.

“Mercedes are at a crossroads,” Hakkinen told , speaking before Hamilt🗹on’s shock exit announcement.

“There has not been a question mark🏅 over the team for a long time.

“After a decade 𝔉fu🐎ll of success, the past two seasons have left their mark on those responsible and employees.

“And that's good! You have to be angry now.

“Now you have to develop this u🧸nconditional will to win again.

“The team has to become a tea🌄m again, develo🍸p this blind understanding. That is currently missing.”

Hamilton and Geor♔ge Russell will again be paired thi🍰s season as Mercedes relaunch their bid for competitiveness with the new W15.

But it will be their last year together with Hamilton s𝕴et for Ferrar🍃i in 2025.

“Even though George is enﷺtering his third season as a Mercedes driver, it is clear that it is Lewis' team,” 🐬Hakkinen said.

“He has been 🗹driving there since 2013 and has worked with many of the engineers and mechanics for years.

“It doesn't take ten minutes of analysis fro𝓡m him to expl𓃲ain the problem.

“Little things like these ultimately decide in Formula 1 whether you are in pole positꦺion or not.”

Mercedes’ big hope for their future now centres around Russell, who did out-score Hamilto♏n in his first year with the team.

“That's correct. But last season Hamilton finished third and Russell only eighth,” Hakkine🔴n inওsisted.

“That didn't surprise me.

“On the one hand, Lewis wanted to show it to everyone af💟ter the Twilight of the Gods had already been taﷺlked about, and on the other hand, George was and continues to be under immense pressure.

“When you✨'re the teammate of a seven-time world champion, all eyes are automatically 💜on you.

“It doesn't matter if you finishe⛦d on the podium if your teammate won.

“It's the same ꦺwith all teams - but George is racing against a record champ♉ion.”

Ho🔴w the dynamic may change this year, ahead of Hamilton’s exit from the team that he is famous for representing, remains to be seen.

Hakkine🍨n won his two F1 championships in 1998 and 1999 driving for McLaren.

He believes his former team can get closest to the ♓dominant Red Bulls this year.

“I expect a lot from McLaren,” he said.

“After having a💃 disastrous staꦡrt to the season last year, they have developed very well and, above all, consistently.

🐲“With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, they probably have the strongest driver pairing next to💧 Ferrari.

“Both have the potential to 🏅become world champions.

“Piastri pu☂ts pressure on Norris. A๊nd Max Verstappen will also feel that this year.”