Motorsport legend predicts the favorites: "Undoubtedly, they'll make the most noise"

18:32, 04 Feb

byLudo van Denderen

Despite a complete overhaul of the technical regulations, Mario Andretti does not expect the balance of power in the sport to shift drastically.

Aston Martin hopes to close the gap and quickly start competing for victories. Alpine believes that switching to Mercedes power units is a step forward, potentially even allowing them to battle for podiums.

There is plenty of ambition on the F1 grid, but is all of it realistic? History has shown that even after major rule changes, the traditional frontrunners usually set the pace, and the smaller teams stay small. This generally comes down to the superior expertise and greater financial resources available to the top teams like Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, McLaren, and Ferrari.

Mario Andretti - Photo: RacePictures

Looking ahead to the upcoming F1 season, Mario Andretti expects these teams to lead the way again in 2026. Asked by GPblog in an exclusive interview who his favorites are for this year, the American legend says: “You always look at the usual suspects, and then there's going to be a surprise here and there for sure. But that's the way it always is.”

Why the frontrunners always rise to the top

Andretti also points out that the traditional frontrunner teams simply have the best facilities and resources. “The people that have performed at the top up to now, they're the ones that are going to make the most noise, no question. But then, anything can happen after that,” Andretti says, leaving the door open for a surprise.

The Formula 1 world champion does not mention Cadillac as a possible surprise. Andretti, who sits on the board of the new F1 team, foresees a more realistic goal for the sport’s debutant.