Mercedes still leads the 2026 Formula 1 championships with some margin, but Toto Wolff admitted that the team will face tougher races in the final stretch of the season. With a more balanced field, mistakes can be costly, and the team faces limitations in bringing updates to the tracks. The team principal commented on the scenario of the Italian GP, which takes place between September 4 and 6:
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“Monza and Madrid mark the beginning of an important period for us. The field has tightened to the point where several teams can win on their own merit, and the price of a mistake is much higher,” Wolff said.
Antonelli’s lead is expected to be impacted in his home race. The Italian will be penalized for using a full set of new power units, of the same specification as the current ones, and will start from the back of the grid.
“For us, Monza starts with a challenge. Kimi will receive a power unit penalty and will start from the back of the grid. It is disappointing for him and for the fans who want to see him fighting at the front in his home race, but our sport does not reward sentimentality. When you make decisions that benefit the championship campaign, sometimes you pay a price in the short term. The goal now is straightforward: recover as many positions as possible and maximize points.”
Russell, on the other hand, arrives boosted by the result in Zandvoort and will try to stay in the fight from the start of the weekend. “On the other side of the garage, George comes with good momentum after Zandvoort and will be looking to establish himself in the fight from the beginning of the weekend.”
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Monza also poses a technical challenge to Mercedes. The track demands a lot from the power unit and offers few opportunities to recharge the battery: “Monza is a low-energy track; you spend most of the lap demanding everything from the power unit and don’t have many opportunities to charge the battery. With the current regulations, this creates compromises that will need to be managed carefully. It is an interesting challenge and will likely lead to an exciting weekend.”
Even in the lead, Wolff emphasizes that Mercedes does not underestimate the approaching scenario. “We have put ourselves in a strong position in both championships, but no one on our team has illusions about how difficult the upcoming races will be,” he concluded.
Mercedes has won eight of the 12 races this season. Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings by 59 points over George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, of Ferrari. In the constructors, the advantage over Ferrari is 87 points.
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