Damon Hill names the F1 team which may copy Brawn GP fairytale in 2026 | F1 | Sport
Damon Hill believes “a complete surprise” could be sprung in Formula 1 this year with sweeping new rules potentially changing the balance of power in the sport. In the 2026 season, teams will run brand new engines and have also had to design their cars around a fresh set of technical regulations.
The last few years have seen the sport largely dominated by two teams. Red Bull adapted best to the last ruleset, which began in 2022, and used that to win back-to-back constructors’ titles and turn Max Verstappen, who won the drivers’ crown for the first time in 2021, into a four-time world champion. McLaren out-developed them over the years, though, to also win two teams’ championships while Lando Norris took his debut title last season to end Verstappen’s run of success.
Whether or not Norris and McLaren will have the chance to build on their success is anyone’s guess at this stage. The scale of the regulation changes is such that no-one yet knows which cars and engines will be quickest when they are put on the race track. And British former racer Hill believes we could be in for a repeat of the 2009 campaign when Brawn GP, a new name on the grid after Honda suddenly quit F1 the previous winter, shocked everyone by winning both titles.
“We could see a complete surprise,” the 1996 world champion told TalkSPORT. “Something like when Jenson Button won with Brawn, they surprised everyone because they saw through the regulations.” And Hill went on to make it clear he believes Aston Martin might be the ones best placed to spring a surprise.
He added: “The master of seeing through the regulations is Adrian Newey, who’s gone to Aston Martin. He left Red Bull and Max Verstappen behind and Christian Horner has left that team anyway. But he’s gone off to Aston Martin. He’s been working on this project now for a good 18 months or so, so we’re sort of expecting him to wave his magic wand over Aston Martin. It could happen.”
Significantly, though, Newey only has control over one of the three separate elements which all need to come together for success in this new era for F1. A superb aerodynamic design will mean little if the engines and fuel used to power the cars are not up to scratch.
In Aston Martin’s case, they need Honda to come through with a competitive engine, having made the switch to work with the Japanese manufacturer. Previous suppliers Mercedes have been widely tipped to produce a strong power unit and Aston will pray they have not switched away at the wrong time.
Fuel is also a significant factor, and also one which has been under-discussed ahead of the new season. F1 has switched to sustainable fuels which have been developed by each engine manufacturer’s chosen supplier. Saudi Arabian oil firm Aramco, a heavy investor in the Aston Martin team, has been making F1 fuel for the first time and their lack of experience on that front could be a disadvantage compared to more established companies like Ferrari partners Shell and Mercedes sponsors Petronas.
