Even with a 50-point lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, Toto Wolff avoids naming Kimi Antonelli as the favorite for the 2026 season title. The Mercedes boss stated that there are still many races ahead and highlighted that engine reliability issues could change the championship scenario.
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“It’s too early to say,” Wolff told the press. “I’m superstitious, even if the difference is 50 points, there are still many races ahead, one or two retirements can change everything drastically.”
Mercedes started the new era of Formula 1 with a competitive car and leads the constructors’ championship, but reliability remains the team’s main challenge. Mechanical incidents affected both Antonelli and George Russell during the first half of the season.
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“We haven’t been very good on reliability,” Wolff said. “We just have to keep maximizing every day, from Friday to Sunday, and hope that, in the end, that is enough.”
Antonelli arrives at the summer break with six wins and a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, of Ferrari, at the top. The Italian made a performance leap compared to his debut season in 2025, when he was often outpaced by George Russell. This year, besides facing a streak of bad luck, the Briton also failed to keep the same pace as his teammate.
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