Max Verstappen has predicted Mercedes to be “at the front” with Formula 1‘s new power unit regulations kicking in from next season onwards.
The 2025 season will not only mark the end of the incumbent ground-effects era of the sport but will also be the last year of the turbo-hybrid engines.
The latest technical rule-set will see the sport shift to a true hybrid engine with a 50-50 split between electrical output and the internal combustion unit.
Naturally, this move by the FIA and the FOM was targeted towards attracting new engine manufacturers to the paddock – and it has comprehensively succeeded.
Next season will see the likes of Audi enter the fray, with Cadillac aiming to transform into a works outfit by 2028, starting out initially as a Ferrari customer team.
A new era comes with speculation about the competitive order. Starting out with a clean slate gives teams the chance to nail the rule-set from the get-go and start a dominant dynasty.
Verstappen, whose team, Red Bull, has reigned supreme for the last few seasons, has cast his vote in favour of rivals Mercedes, however.
“It’s difficult to say,” he began while speaking to Sky Germany.
“I do believe Mercedes will be at the front. They’re always there and always strong.
“They’re a top company. So I do believe they’ll be at the front, especially when it comes to the engine.”
Verstappen is tentative about Red Bull’s 2026 chances
Audi and Cadillac are not the only OEMs entering the paddock from next season.
Ford is returning to the sport in partnership with Red Bull, which is slated to produce its own F1 engines for the first time in its history.
The Milton Keynes-based squad will itself be aware that this would be an uphill task for it, given the nascent state of its engine program.
And the four-time World Champion isn’t ready to throw caution to the wind just yet.
“Next year won’t be easy with our own engine, of course,” he conceded.
“That’s a new risk for Red Bull, but they also took that risk by entering Formula 1, and they didn’t do a bad job.”
That said, while Verstappen was tentative about how competitive Red Bull can be, he was confident that the team is doing all that it can to field a competitive package.
“We’re definitely giving it our all. I hope we’re close, but of course I don’t know,” he concluded.
READ MORE – How Max Verstappen has spearheaded ‘quite spectacular’ Red Bull progress in F1 2025
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