Helmut Marko: The regulations in their current form are not working.

      Helmut Marko has joined the ranks of those criticizing the 2026 technical regulations. The former Red Bull motorsport consultant stated that the roots of the current problems were laid several years ago when the focus was placed on electrification and reducing the significance of internal combustion engines during the development of the power unit regulations.

      Helmut Marko: "Some aspects were overlooked during the development of the regulations, but we must not forget that the regulations were adopted in years when there was a belief that electric cars were the only option.

      However, the situation has changed significantly over time – internal combustion engines have made a comeback thanks to new fuels that do not emit CO2. This means they are acceptable from an ecological standpoint.

      Now all attention should be directed towards eliminating, I would say, the shortcomings in the regulations. In theory, it sounds great when the power is distributed between the electric part of the power unit and the internal combustion engine in a 50:50 ratio. But in practice, this approach does not work, as the battery needs to be charged, and there are not enough zones for recharging on the tracks.

      Moreover, safety issues remain, as seen in the situation between Colapinto and Berman [in Japan]. The speed difference between them reached 50 km/h. It created the impression that the car was almost standing still – such situations need to be avoided.

      Another point is the unstable starts, which also lead to dangerous situations. But this is still a new regulation, and it needs a chance.

      I believe Lewis Hamilton is right when he says that the advantage will go to whoever learns to manage energy better. But this approach is far from Formula 1, which is about the fastest driver in a good or the fastest car winning.

      In Formula 1, it should not all come down to engineers who have tuned the program better than others. It should not be the case that overtaking happens because one driver has a charged battery while another has a depleted one. This is not real overtaking; it's just passing by. It should not be like this."