Former Red Bull chief brands Hamilton's maiden Ferrari victory a “win for F1”

The 83-year-old, reflecting on the current state of the sport amid the sweeping changes the regulations have ushered in, noted that he has largely transitioned into a regular television viewer. Marko also said he has opted out of receiving crucial data and information, unlike in previous years.

The Austrian, however, noted he still considers the current state of racing to be quite good, despite the complications of the current power unit. Marko concluded by highlighting how a victory for Hamilton largely translates into a positive for the sport.

“I’m now just a regular TV viewer like everyone else. I’ve also opted out of receiving all the data. The races are generally quite good, despite the complicated engine regulations with energy recovery. But for the sport, it’s obviously a guaranteed win when Lewis Hamilton wins with Ferrari,” Marko said via Kleine Zeitung.

So far, amid the continued modifications being made to the current-generation power unit, Hamilton was able to claim a race victory for Mercedes last time out at the Barcelona Grand Prix. The race win marked his first win for Scuderia Ferrari, and the first Grand Prix victory for a team not named Mercedes through the 2026 campaign so far.

Despite his comments, the octogenarian also threw his weight behind a return to V8 engines in Formula 1. The former Red Bull advisor noted that it would eliminate the current flaws plaguing the current-generation power unit and ultimately make racing more exciting.

The FIA has recently ratified changes to the current power unit amid growing dissent among drivers and key stakeholders over the flaws of the regulations. The approved changes, in conjunction with the FOM and power unit manufacturers, will see a progressive shift in the allocation of power between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the battery, with the ICE gaining more influence until it reaches a 60/40 split proposed for the 2028 Formula 1 campaign.