Helmut Marko has expressed his surprise at how strong Mercedes’ chassis has proven to be early in the new F1 season.
Helmut Marko has expressed surprise at the level of dominance Mercedes has displayed in the early stages of the 2026 F1 season, pointing out the impressive performance of the team’s chassis. Despite initial expectations of a close competition, Mercedes has established itself as the frontrunner, excelling in both qualifying and race conditions. Marko noted that Mercedes’ strength not only lies in their power unit advantage but also in their overall package, which includes the best chassis on the grid. With development limited by the cost cap, Marko believes that rival teams may struggle to close the gap to Mercedes throughout the season. The Austrian also praised Mercedes’ driver lineup, singling out rookie Kimi Antonelli as a potential challenger to George Russell if he can maintain his performance level.
