Helmut Marko has delivered a scathing verdict on Formula 1\u2019s new era, claiming the Australian Grand Prix featured \u201cpassing, not overtaking\u201d.<\/p>\n
Formula 1 welcomed a new technical era this season, with Sunday\u2019s Australian Grand Prix providing the first glimpse of it. <\/p>\n
Helmut Marko: In the classic sense overtaking has not improved in any way<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n George Russell<\/a> clinched the victory in a Mercedes 1-2, converting pole position into a win after a thrilling early-race battle with Charles Leclerc, who got the jump on the field at the start.<\/p>\n The two went wheel-to-wheel in the early laps, the lead changing hands eight times before Russell pitted under the first Virtual Safety Car.<\/p>\n Even Marko, sitting at home after parting ways with Red Bull, enjoyed the battle.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pulse was up because you knew that the starting phase would bring some surprises. When two Red Bull cars were at the front in the first lap, the pulse went up a bit,\u201d he told sport.de.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first laps were a good show, but after the Mercedes no longer took part and drove away, it was clear what dominance and advantage Mercedes has.\u201d<\/p>\n However, he argued it wasn\u2019t overtaking at all \u2013 merely passing.<\/p>\n More on F1 2026\u2019s new regulations<\/p>\n Formula Net Zero: F1\u2019s soul is being destroyed by the 2026 rules<\/a> Russell and Leclerc\u2019s fight was largely determined by the charge remaining in their batteries at that specific point, while even Max Verstappen\u2019s rise from 20th to sixth at the chequered flag was at times battery dependent.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t call it that,\u201d he said of \u2018overtaking\u2019, more like \u201cpassing\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOvertaking,\u201d he continued, \u201cin the classic sense has not improved in any way.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were no real overtaking manoeuvres in the sense that someone is on the brakes later or has come out of the corner.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is most disturbing is when you hear someone take their foot off the gas on the straight. That\u2019s hard to connect with the DNA of Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n But while the drivers were critical of the new regulations, his former charge Verstappen labelling it \u201csuper frustrating\u201d<\/a>, Marko says the new regulations need to be \u201cgiven a chance.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will certainly get better,\u201d he insisted, before declaring the new regulations \u201cfar too complicated\u201d as \u201call that in detail was too stupid for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Helmut Marko claims Mercedes has \u2018relatively large lead\u2019<\/p>\n Russell won the Australian Grand Prix ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who despite falling to seventh at the start, fought his way back into the battle for a podium as he closed in on Russell, Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.<\/p>\n The Italian made notable gains as he clawed his way back after a disappointing start, with Marko declaring the Mercedes was \u201con rails\u201d.<\/p>\n As for Leclerc and Hamilton, they both made <\/p>\n \u201cAntonelli dropped back to seventh place at the start and then drove back to second place relatively quickly. He drove roughly one second faster than the rest in this phase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cA really good in contrast to previous years.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout the super start that the Ferraris made, this situation would never have happened. Thanks to their small turbo, we can hope that this starting performance will also be there at the next races.\u201d<\/p>\n The Austrian, Red Bull\u2019s long-time motorsport advisor, does not foresee a change to the pecking order any time soon.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the order will change much,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n
George Russell responds to Lando Norris \u2018worst cars\u2019 criticism of F1 2026 regulations<\/a><\/p>\n