In recent days, we reported excerpts from an interview given by Helmut Marko, in which he discussed the drivers who could have the greatest chances of success in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The former Red Bull advisor firmly believes that a driver powered by a Mercedes engine will win this year, although he remains open to possible surprises.
With power units completely revised compared to those that debuted in 2024, and with a new system designed to make overtaking easier, drivers will play a fundamental role in managing energy throughout a lap and across a race distance.
Marko: “Thinking and being fast is one of Verstappen’s strengths”
For this reason, Dr Helmut Marko believes that two drivers above all others could make a significant difference, at least in the early stages of the season. “Drivers will have a crucial role in how energy is used. They will have to drive at the limit, and this will give a big advantage to Max Verstappen. Thinking and, at the same time, being very fast is one of his qualities,” he told broadcaster ORF.
It has long been known that the Austrian has a particular admiration for the four-time world champion, and honestly, it is a view that is easy to share. Max Verstappen has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt to changing conditions and technical challenges.
Perhaps the second name mentioned by Dr Marko is the one that raises more eyebrows. Especially because, just days before the first pre-season test, he has added his voice to the growing list of supporters of Fernando Alonso, who in 2026 will be driving a car designed by former Red Bull technical mastermind Adrian Newey. “The value of each individual driver will be more important than in the past. In that sense, even a veteran like Fernando Alonso could have an advantage,” the Austrian concluded.
Expectations around Fernando Alonso continue to rise ahead of the new season, with the Spaniard set to turn 45 on 29 July, yet still widely regarded as one of the most complete and influential drivers on the Formula 1 grid.
Helmut Marko’s assessment highlights a fascinating shift in the 2026 narrative, suggesting that raw car performance might be partially offset by the intellectual capacity of the driver. By placing Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso on the same pedestal, Marko is signaling that the ability to multitask—balancing wheel-to-wheel combat with complex battery deployment strategies—will be the “X-factor” that defines the new era. As the Spaniard reunites with Adrian Newey‘s design philosophy at Aston Martin and Verstappen prepares for the challenge of the Red Bull-Ford power unit, the battle of the minds looks set to be just as intense as the battle of the engines.
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