{"id":416101,"date":"2026-01-17T21:37:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T21:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/416101\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T21:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T21:37:10","slug":"helmut-marko-fires-mercedes-warning-for-new-f1-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/416101\/","title":{"rendered":"Helmut Marko Fires Mercedes Warning For New F1 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has given his verdict on who will emerge victorious in the 2026 Formula 1 world championship.<\/p>\n

Marko left his role with the team based in Milton Keynes<\/a>, England, having been a key figure throughout the team’s 21 years on the grid up to the present day.<\/p>\n

The 2026 F1 season ushers in a new era with changes to the technical regulations for both the chassis and power units, the first major overhaul for the latter since the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrids in 2014.<\/p>\n

Marko concerned<\/p>\n

Among the changes to the power units is the removal of the MGU-H, an increase in electrical output, and the introduction of sustainable fuel, while on the chassis side, cars are shortened and ground effect aerodynamics have been removed.<\/p>\n

Firing up for F1 2026 \ud83e\udd1d#F1<\/a> || #RedBullRacing<\/a> @FordRacing<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9yvr5eUY2Y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) January 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

While the gap between the front and back of the grid was as close as ever last season as Lando Norris and McLaren completed a championship double, it is expected that teams will diverge early in the new era.<\/p>\n

This is after Mercedes’ power dominated the early stages of the turbo-hybrid era, with Ferrari, Renault, and Honda failing to close until later in the decade.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Austrian outlet ORF, Marko has fired a warning that Mercedes will again be the class of the field, agreeing with rumors that the German manufacturer is ahead in development.<\/p>\n

“I hope there won’t be such differences as there were in 2014, when Mercedes left everyone far behind with a huge lead,” said Marko. “But from what you hear, Mercedes seems to be the furthest along in engine development.”<\/p>\n

\"Helmut<\/p>\n

Getty Images \/ Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n

Norris broke Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s four-year championship-winning streak last year, though the Dutchman won more races than everyone else across the campaign.<\/p>\n

Asked who he felt would come out on top this year, Marko replied: “I fear it will be a driver using a Mercedes engine. It could be Lando Norris. Williams is reportedly making quite a bit of progress.”<\/p>\n

“And, of course, George Russell is someone who, if he really wants to be among the world’s best, has to live up to that now and drive for the world championship.”<\/p>\n

\"Lando<\/p>\n

McLaren Racing<\/p>\n

The first official session of the new season gets underway with a behind-closed-doors test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya at the end of January.<\/p>\n

Red Bull was the first team to reveal its color scheme<\/a> for the new campaign alongside Racing Bulls at an event in Detroit on January 15.<\/p>\n

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