WATCH | Marko suggests Red Bull had a hand in Mercedes early season struggles

Red Bull supremo Helmet Marco claims the team's decision to poach select Mercedes engineers has led to the German team's struggles this season.

The Austrian outfit has begun from where they left off last season and is already embroiled in another heated Championship battle. However, this time around, it is with Ferrari as Mercedes has struggled in the middle of the pack fighting tooth and nail for every point.OPINION | Don't blame Hamilton, Russell: Mercedes' 2022 car is fundamentally flawed

There are obviously many reasons for this turnaround in fortunes for the Silver Arrows, but Marco is convinced the backroom staff they chose to steal away has had an enormous impact.

"Yes, something like this. I think that a loss of this size is not indifferent; it is quite normal that it can create some difficulties. And just before that, Andy Cowell was gone," he said.

Part of the reason why it was such a big deal was because of the shift to completely new regulations and cars this season, and Marko believes Mercedes has been caught out by the new fuel blend.

"I can't say exactly, but I think there is a link. It is a logical explanation. Personally, I believe that everything is related to the new gasoline," he suggested.