Formula 1, Sportrik Media - David Coulthard has revealed that Max Verstappen considers any driver equipped with a Mercedes power unit as a potential title rival ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
The new season begins under sweeping power unit regulations, leaving the competitive order uncertain despite the familiar presence of four leading teams: Oracle Red Bull Racing, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, McLaren and Scuderia Ferrari. Pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain has produced mixed signals, with no definitive hierarchy established.
Red Bull’s new powertrain has drawn strong praise across the paddock, yet Mercedes concluded the latest Bahrain test with the two fastest headline times. Crucially, discussion has centred not solely on the Brackley-based works team, but on the apparent strength of the German manufacturer’s engine package across its customer network.
In addition to the Mercedes works pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, both Williams Racing and Alpine F1 Team run Mercedes power units. According to Coulthard, this collective engine presence has shaped Verstappen’s assessment of the early title landscape.
“Well, look, I spoke to Max Verstappen a couple of days ago, and when I asked him, ‘Who are your competitors?’ he said, ‘Anyone with a Mercedes engine.’”
“Well, there are four teams that have Mercedes engines: Mercedes themselves, McLaren, of course, Alpine, and Williams — with Williams looking a little bit on the back foot.”
Coulthard suggested that if early testing form were to guide betting markets, Russell would represent a logical contender, though he cautioned against underestimating Verstappen’s capacity to remain central to the championship fight.
“So yeah, right now, if you had to place a bet, George Russell for world champion is probably not a bad bet — but never write off Max.”
He also referenced encouraging long-run pace from Ferrari during testing, raising the prospect of renewed competitiveness from Lewis Hamilton as the seven-time world champion begins a new chapter in red.
“And I was reading earlier that Ferrari have been quite good on the long runs, so maybe a newly loved-up Lewis Hamilton will rediscover his form and win his eighth world title.”
With four established teams operating under distinct aerodynamic philosophies yet separated by narrow performance margins, the influence of the power unit could prove decisive in the early phase of 2026. If Mercedes’ engine advantage translates consistently across its customer teams, the title battle may extend beyond traditional intra-team rivalries into a broader manufacturer-led contest.
As Melbourne approaches, Verstappen’s assessment reflects a strategic awareness of collective engine strength rather than a singular team threat. In a regulation cycle defined by integration between power delivery and chassis efficiency, that broader competitive lens may ultimately prove justified.
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