"Very fast over the whole test": Esteban Ocon believes Mercedes will be strong in 2026 while Audi and Cadillac may struggle

As 2026 begins, Formula 1 preparations are picking up pace, with the event scheduled to run from March 2026 onward. This year came with a whole bunch of new rules for the F1 participants. Many regulations have been imposed on engines and car designs. This forced the experts to think about the scenario of F1 2026.

One of the best drivers, Esteban Ocon, has stated an interesting fact by comparing Mercedes with Audi and Cadillac, where he has shown the advantage of Mercedes while saying that the other two will face struggles throughout the season.

Why will Mercedes be advantaged?

The rules that have been applied this year will be focused on areas such as sustainable fuels, electrical power, etc. And as a matter of fact, Mercedes has been doing this for a long time, and thus, it will be a plus point for Mercedes to become a stronger team this year. Now, the engine part, Mercedes has been making engines efficiently. During the sudden change of rules in 2014, Mercedes managed well and dominated the sport for a long time.

“I think it’s a bit early to talk about the pecking order, but we’ve seen that Mercedes was very fast over the whole test,” Ocon said.


This way, Ocon thinks Mercedes has the experience that can surely prove to be proficient for 2026’s F1. Apart from this one major advantage for Mercedes, it must be the research team they have. Their technical knowledge and expertise are far superior to those of most F1 teams.

What about Audi and Cadillac’s struggle

Entering any sports event like F1 needs experience; this can be a challenge for Audi, as they debuted only in 2026 by taking over Sauber. Cadillac's entry will be backed by General Motors. F1 is a complex event that needs reliability and good expertise to survive in it. Also, the major changes in rules can confuse both teams who are entering for the first time.

Teams like Ferrari and Mercedes already have a power unit and a structured team, which Audi and Cadillac lack. Given the complexity of F1 and the challenges of surviving a race, the teams should stand firm with determination and patience. Although it might seem hard, over time, Audi and Cadillac can also be like Mercedes and other high-end teams.


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