Marko’s prediction: “I fear that the 2026 champion will be a Mercedes-powered driver”

Marko away from the paddock For the first time since 2005 Helmut Marko will observe the Formula 1 world championship from afar and no longer on the track, having terminated in recent months his long contract which tied him to Red Bull, a team that he contributed to creating and which he helped lead to victory.
At 82 years old, the former Austrian driver will enjoy a well-deserved rest and, although he has promised to be in the paddock for some world events, he will watch the world championship from home. And in this regard he had already planned to create a multi-screen room to follow both the images and the chronometric measurements of each session step by step. Marko’s prophecy On Austrian television ORF, Helmut Marko explained what the 2026 world championship will be like: “Last year we had qualifying sessions in which 20 single-seaters found themselves within the space of seven tenths. In this championship the gap is destined to increase considerably. If a manufacturer were to have an advantage, we risk differences in terms of seconds. Furthermore, the engine regulations cannot be changed overnight, it will take at least a year”. And Marko wanted to put a magnifying glass on the topic of the power unit: “I fear that the winner of the world championship will be a Mercedes-powered driver. According to what we hear around, Mercedes is the most advanced in the development of the power unit. It could still be Lando Norris, although I have heard that Williams is making notable progress. And if George Russell wants to be a top player, he must prove it now and fight for the world championship.”