A former engineer for Mercedes and current Ferrari senior boss, dismisses the idea of Mercedes’ dominance as a myth: “I don’t think that’s the case.” – Mercedes’ extraordinary dominance during the first hybrid era of Formula 1 continues to shape expectations ahead of the next major regulation change.
Between 2014 and 2020, the German manufacturer won seven consecutive world championships with two different drivers, setting a benchmark that few teams have ever come close to matching. As Formula 1 prepares for another seismic shift in 2026, many observers are once again predicting a repeat performance from Mercedes.
Jock Clear, however, is not among them
The highly respected engineer, who previously worked at Mercedes before moving to Ferrari, believes that the assumption of an inevitable Mercedes advantage is based more on history than reality.
In his view, Formula 1 and the FIA have learned important lessons from past cycles of dominance, and the current structures make a repeat far less likely.
Confidence in the FIA’s long-term planning
Clear speaks positively about how the sport’s governing body has handled the upcoming regulation overhaul. While acknowledging that no rule set is ever perfect from the outset, he argues that the FIA has taken a more strategic and forward-looking approach than in previous eras.
“If next season isn’t great, the fans will suddenly say, ‘This needs to be revamped a bit; what’s going on?’” Clear explains. “And then the organisers will have nothing up their sleeves.”
For this reason, he believes that regulation changes must be designed with a multi-year horizon in mind. According to Clear, it takes around three years to properly establish a new technical framework, and Formula 1 must always think that far ahead.
Reflecting on the past, he acknowledges that fan dissatisfaction has played a pivotal role in shaping recent changes.
“Three years ago, all the fans were saying it was boring, that Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were always winning,” he reflects.
“They responded in a timely manner, and I think that’s exactly what they should do.”
In Clear’s view, the FIA has reacted appropriately to cycles of dominance, rather than allowing them to persist unchecked.
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Why won’t 2026 mirror 2014?
One of the most persistent narratives surrounding the 2026 rules is the idea that Mercedes will once again gain a decisive power unit advantage, similar to that of its revolutionary hybrid engine in 2014. Clear is unconvinced.
“I think people have jumped on the engine regulation change as if it were 2014, as if it would be exactly the same as it was then,” he says. “I just don’t think that’s the case.”
During the previous hybrid era, Mercedes was widely regarded as the team to beat for many years, enjoying both performance superiority and exceptional reliability. However, Clear argues that the regulatory environment is now very different, with mechanisms specifically designed to prevent extreme performance gaps between manufacturers.
“Some teams will do a better job with their engines, and that will make it very processional at certain stages,” he admits. “I just don’t think that will be the case next season.”
According to Clear, the systems put in place to manage power unit convergence are far more sophisticated and responsive than in the past, enabling teams to close the gap more effectively.
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Built-in safeguards against runaway dominance
Clear points to the FIA’s approach to balancing power units as a key reason why prolonged domination is unlikely in 2026. While performance differences will inevitably exist, he believes the current framework gives teams the tools to react rather than fall irreversibly behind.
“I think the systems that have been put in place to deal with differences between power units are actually very good and should enable teams to respond,” he says.
In his view, this fundamentally alters the competitive landscape. Rather than one manufacturer gaining a decisive advantage and maintaining it for years, Clear expects a more fluid hierarchy, with development races playing out over shorter cycles.
He argues that this uncertainty is healthy for the sport, even if it fuels endless speculation.
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Why speculation is part of Formula 1’s appeal
Despite the constant debate surrounding 2026, Clear believes that analysing every possible outcome before a single car has even turned a wheel is ultimately pointless.
“Let’s just wait and see what happens,” he says. “We’ve been talking about it for a year now, and that’s one of the reasons why the sport is so healthy, because people are talking about it.”
He notes that the conversation now extends far beyond individual driver rivalries. While recent seasons have featured intense on-track battles between Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris, fans are also deeply engaged with what lies ahead.
“That’s how the sport works,” Clear explains. “There are different layers of excitement.”
A golden era for tech geeks
For engineers and tech-savvy fans, the current moment is particularly appealing. Clear counts himself firmly among that group.
“Yes, Netflix has attracted a new kind of fan,” he says, “but there are still loyal fans who are technophiles, who love technology and the fact that it is always advancing.”
He believes that the 2026 regulations will deliver exactly that, with innovation taking centre stage once again. He also rejects the idea that a heavy focus on technical headlines is problematic for Formula 1.
“The headlines may mainly be about the cars’ technology and power sources, but that’s not a bad thing,” Clear insists.
“It’s a technology-driven sport, andas such, we enjoy the fact that there’s a lot of technology involved and a lot of discussion about it.”
For Clear, this ongoing technical evolution is not a distraction from Formula 1’s appeal; it is the very reason the sport exists.
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McLaren’s divisive ‘papaya rules’ to change? – The McLaren team’s comeback has been a remarkable Formula One tale. Having ditched Ron Dennis, the legendary team owner and principal in 2017 McLaren’s fortunes have been on the rise.
Dennis was obsessed with being a works based team with an engine supplier solely dedicated to the McLaren cause. And with long term partner Mercedes deciding to adventure once again into owing a team in 2010, this left McLaren on the back foot.
To be fair to Dennis when the new V6 hybrid era began in 2014, the power unit manufacturers who owned teams were allowed preferential treatment under the FIA’s rules. This meant their team would get any PU upgrades first, with customers having to wait until the factory could build enough.
Papaya rules dominate 2025 headlines
All this has now changed since Mercedes’ dominant era and F1 customer teams now must be given the same specification of powertrains that the manufacturers run in their own car. But for McLaren, Dennis’ adventure with Honda was a disaster and saw the team finish a lowly 9th in the constructors’ championship in 2017.
Zak Brown was subsequently appointed CEO of McLaren Racing and their fortunes have been on the up ever since. They are the first ‘customer team’ to win the constructors’ title since Brawn GP in 2009 and for two seasons now have dominated their PU supplier Mercedes.
Yet despite their second team title and Lando Norris maiden F1 championship, McLaren are a team under scrutiny. Much of which comes from their decision to make public their rules of combat between the drivers. ‘Papaya rules’ often dominated the headlines in 2025, with Oscar Piastri finally admitting the team orders in Monza affected his mentality and ultimately his title chance.
The papaya rules are McLaren’s rule book for their drivers which state the team comes ahead of any individual glory, emphasising no contact should be made and the drivers must respect whatever…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Stanton is a London-based journalist specialising in sports business and sponsorship. With a degree in economics and years reporting for business-focused publications, Stanton translates F1’s complex financial world into clear, compelling narratives.