Mercedes engines appeared to be the most advanced heading into the 2026 season, but a strong denial has emerged from within the F1 paddock.
The upcoming season will bring a major regulation overhaul, primarily affecting power units and the combustion process. This shift has led to speculation that Mercedes could once again dominate, just as it did in 2014 with the introduction of the turbo-hybrid era.
However, according to a key figure in the paddock, such claims are far from confirmed. Even Toto Wolff admitted he does not have access to data from rival teams, making it difficult to assess any real advantage. As always, only the track will provide real answers, although multiple rumors still point to the Anglo-German manufacturer as the team to beat.
Helmut Marko’s Certainty
Helmut Marko addressed the topic of Mercedes engines in a conversation with the Austrian magazine Kleine Zeitung. The Red Bull advisor was clear in his stance: “At Mercedes they consider themselves favorites, but there’s no concrete evidence to support that.” Marko aimed to refute the growing speculation surrounding next season and also shared updates on Red Bull’s own development progress.
“There are a couple of key aspects regarding the new cars: the engine and the combustion process. We’re in a good place there, and barring reliability issues, it won’t be a game-changer. The battery is fundamental, and we’re starting with a conventional solution. Fuel is another critical factor, and development is going well thanks to our partner Exxon.”
Eventually, all teams will stop working on their current cars to shift focus to 2026: “There’s a precise plan for how we allocate wind tunnel time and other tools. At a certain point, we’ll say: ‘That’s enough for further development.’ The two main reasons are time and the high cost of producing new components. After Silverstone or Spa, we’ll fully shift focus to next year’s car.”
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