Dr Helmut Marko concedes that Mercedes might hold an edge as Formula 1 enters the new regulatory era in 2026.
Team principal Christian Horner has dismissed suggestions that Red Bull is driving behind-the-scenes discussions to delay the 2026 rules and push for V10 engines due to concerns over its own power unit development.
"It will be a massive change," team advisor Marko told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.
"Mercedes has already declared itself the favourite, but there won't be much difference on the combustion engine side," he added. "We're right on track, thanks in part to help from Ford, and believe we'll have a maximum of five kW less—absolutely fine at this point.
"The big question is the battery," the 81-year-old Austrian continued. "How is it cooled? How quickly is it charged? How quickly do you get the energy into the car? It's all about the software, and it's possible that someone will be way ahead in this area.
"But we have good people, many from Mercedes, and we've bought the necessary equipment from AVL. But nobody knows exactly where they stand," Marko said.
The 2026 season also brings the debut of Cadillac as a new team. Despite initial resistance, Marko views it positively. "When one of the world's largest automakers with such a traditional brand enters Formula 1, it always benefits," he said. "When I was growing up, Cadillac was an absolute dream car, and now they want to get back on their feet.
"They could even be successful right away because General Motors has a stake in Ferrari, and they (Cadillac) are starting with Ferrari engines. The exciting thing will be how they manage the disparity between their locations—the engine factory in North Carolina and the team base in England."
Sergio Perez, whom Red Bull parted ways with last year, is now a strong contender for a Cadillac race seat. "If he's recovered from the pressure of Verstappen and is highly motivated, then yes," said Marko when asked if the Mexican could return competitively to F1.
"He's extremely popular in Latin America, which is something else to keep in mind. I just spoke to him on the phone, and he's in good spirits and enjoying life. They'll probably need an experienced driver."
