Helmut Marko believes that James Vowles move to Williams is a sign of tension within the Mercedes camp.

If nothing else, F1 and Liberty Media's strongly worded letter to Mohammed Ben Sulayem pushes the somewhat tiresome antics of the likes of Toto Wolff and Christian Horner into the wings.

Speaking to The Times recently, the Mercedes boss claimed that Horner is obsessed with him.

"I am living in his head rent-free," declared the Austrian. "Every second that I spend on talking about Horner is a waste of time in my life," he added.

Of course, other than Horner, Red Bull has its Lord High Executioner, Helmut Marko who tends to get into everyone's heads.

Speaking to sport1.de, Marko has suggested that Vowles move to Williams isn't so much about creating a Mercedes B-team, but rather an indication of unrest within the Brackley camp.

Asked if he was concerned at the possibility of Williams becoming Mercedes 'back-up', the Austrian replied: "No, I have completely different information.

"Vowles went of his own accord and - so it is said - even takes good engineers with him," he added. "My sources tell me that's why the mood at Mercedes is so tense."

While sections of the media are already stoking the flames in terms of the potential for George Russell to get his feet further under the table at Brackley, in much the same way as they are building the hype around the situation at Red Bull in terms of the 'threat' to Sergio Perez from Daniel Ricciardo, this is what we should come to expect in this age of the fabricated controversy-driven Drive to Survive.

Indeed, despite his claim of tension within the team and that Vowles has taken good engineers with him, Marko admits: Mercedes will be our biggest challenger when it comes to defending our title."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Burton, 27/01/2023 23:47

"By the same logic, Dan Fallows leaving RB to Aston is proof of unrest at Red Bull. Marko should just sthu sometimes..."

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2. Posted by Paulinho, 27/01/2023 8:41

"Sometimes people just want to change and do something similar but else where. "

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3. Posted by equator180, 27/01/2023 5:47

"Seems there just may be tension, Toto seems to be showing cracks around the edge. For sure behind the doors of the team its not a Mary Poppins picnic contrary to the Toto "Family affair," projection. "

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4. Posted by Defiant, 27/01/2023 3:08

"In a high octane occupation like F1, I'd imagine there is stress, conflict and tension in the best managed teams, having the Helmet throwing mud around is just more nonsense from RB. "

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5. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 26/01/2023 15:52

"Perhaps Grove is a shorter commute for Vowles?"

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 26/01/2023 12:03

"So Horner's achieved his goal."

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7. Posted by JamesD, 26/01/2023 12:02

"Helmut by name, helmet by nature ..."

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8. Posted by Hobgoblin, 26/01/2023 11:18

"Marko said.. is that like a game of Simon Says, but in reverse?"

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9. Posted by Mad Matt, 26/01/2023 10:33

"...and tomorrow Mercedes will say that X is an example of tension in the Red Bull camp.... do these amateur psychological games work? "

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