Jock Clear on F1 2026: “The romantic in me hopes Adrian Newey will deliver another rocket”. Former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear says Mercedes isn’t automatically the favorite for 2026.

According to the former Ferrari engineer, Mercedes isn’t automatically the favorite as the new F1 season approaches.

Starting from scratch

The 2026 Formula 1 season is already heating up, with team unveilings just around the corner. Next week, Red Bull and Racing Bulls will reveal their new liveries on Thursday, January 15, at Ford’s headquarters in Detroit.

Former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear didn’t commit to predicting who will hit the ground running under the new regulations: “I haven’t formed an opinion yet on who will start strong, as they say,” Jock Clear told CasinoHawks. “I’ve read many opinions, and I think there’s a general belief that Mercedes will do a great job, but I don’t know if that’s only because last time there was a big change in the engine rules and Mercedes did an excellent job. Since then, many things have changed. Many people have moved around. The other teams have learned a lot from what Mercedes did in 2014.”

Curiosity about Newey’s Aston Martin

Jock Clear didn’t hide his obvious excitement about Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin project: “Would I be really thrilled if Aston started like a rocket? The romantic in me would say that would be fantastic. I’d tell myself, ‘Newey did it again.’ But then, on the other hand, I think no, definitely not, you can’t tell me Adrian will do it again with Aston Martin—it’s simply absurd. So, I’m not sure which direction I’d like the situation to take. There’s certainly a lot to look forward to, even for the drivers, who will play a central role thanks to the tools they’ll have at their disposal. I’m very curious to see how everyone interprets these rules and how they react after the first races.” – the former Ferrari engineer pointed out.

As the F1 community stands on the precipice of a new technical era, Jock Clear’s balanced perspective highlights the sheer unpredictability of what lies ahead. Whether the grid sees a return to Mercedes’ legendary engine dominance or a “romantic” masterstroke from Adrian Newey at his new home in Silverstone, the 2026 season promises to reshuffle the hierarchy in ways we haven’t seen in a decade. With the first reveals only days away, the transition from theoretical engineering to on-track reality is about to become the sport’s biggest talking point.