Helmut Marko caught off-guard by Mercedes in major F1 area

Helmut Marko has admitted he is surprised by the extent of Mercedes' dominance at the start of the 2026 F1 season, with the Austrian pointing in particular to the unexpected strength of the team's chassis.

Mercedes has established itself as the clear benchmark across the opening rounds, delivering a series of commanding performances that have left the rest of the field struggling to keep pace.

While much of the focus heading into the new regulations had been on their power unit advantage, it is the all-round package that has stood out in Australia, China and Japan.

Pre-season testing had indicated a close battle at the front, but that expectation quickly proved wide of the mark once racing got underway, with Mercedes consistently outpacing its rivals in both qualifying and race conditions.

"You now have the data," Marko said in an interview with Kleine Zeitung. "Everyone knows what the strengths are and, if you are not Mercedes, what the weaknesses are.

"Those are what teams are trying to correct. However, due to the budget cap, such adjustments are not straightforward."

With development restricted under the cost cap, the Austrian suggested that rivals may already be running out of opportunities to close the gap to the front.

"It was expected that they would be dominant with the engine," he continued. "But in terms of the chassis as well, they are the positive surprise. They not only have the best engine, but also the best chassis."

Mercedes' advantage has been particularly evident when running in clean air, allowing them to fully exploit both their pace and tyre management strengths during races.

"Mercedes will dominate — that was clear as soon as they were able to run in clean air," the 82-year-old added.

He also highlighted the strength of the team's driver line-up, with rookie Kimi Antonelli making a strong impression alongside George Russell this term.

"Kimi Antonelli was quick in all the junior categories," Marko said. "Now he has more experience. If he does not suffer a dip in form, he will become a real challenge for George Russell."