Marko Fears Mercedes Engines Could Cost Verstappen 2026 Title

Helmut Marko has cast doubt on Max Verstappen’s ability to reclaim the World Championship in 2026, predicting that the title will likely go to a driver powered by a Mercedes engine. The Red Bull advisor expressed concern that the new regulatory cycle could create significant performance gaps, potentially allowing customer teams like Williams to emerge as unexpected contenders.

Why it matters:

With F1 introducing a new power unit formula in 2026, the competitive order is poised for a massive shake-up. Marko’s comments highlight Red Bull’s anxiety as they transition to their own in-house power unit, while fearing a repeat of Mercedes’ 2014 dominance where they leaped ahead of the field under new rules.

The details:

• Mercedes Threat: Marko explicitly stated, "I’m afraid it will be someone who uses the Mercedes engine." This puts Lando Norris at McLaren and George Russell in the frame, but he also intriguingly mentioned Williams as a team making "quite a bit of progress."
• Regulatory Complexity: The 2026 rules feature a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrification, plus new sustainable fuels. Marko believes these factors—combustion engine, battery, and software—could lead to drastically diverging performance levels compared to the tight field of 2025.
• Red Bull's Challenge: Red Bull is deploying its first-ever in-house engine (RBPT-Ford). Team principal Laurent Mekies has already warned fans to "bear with us" during the first few months, acknowledging the difficulty of the challenge.
• Driver Influence: Despite the engine focus, Marko emphasized that the driver's role will be crucial. He noted Verstappen's ability to "drive really fast and think at the same time" will be a massive asset, giving veterans like Alonso an advantage as well.

What's next:

The first group test for the new cars begins on January 26th behind closed doors, followed by public testing in Bahrain from February 11-13. These sessions will provide the first real data on whether Marko’s fears about a Mercedes advantage are founded.