Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, used McLaren’s example to highlight how quickly a team can recover and become competitive within a Formula 1 regulation cycle. The Austrian executive mentioned McLaren, which, after years of struggle, ‘rose like a phoenix’ in 2024, establishing itself as one of the strongest teams on the grid.
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Speaking about the implications of the cost cap and the proximity between teams at the end of 2025, Wolff agreed with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, who stated that modern F1 allows for team convergence over the years, with less than a second separating the entire field. According to Wolff, even with major teams maintaining an advantage, grid mobility is evident, with midfield teams potentially becoming competitive in just six months.
“McLaren was really struggling for a few years, but in a few GPs, the team rose like a phoenix and started winning championships,” Wolff stated, highlighting that Formula 1 offers equal opportunities for everyone. He added that a team currently in the midfield, like Haas or Alpine, could be in a completely different position within a short time.
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Wolff believes that Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing are the teams that will be among the leaders in the fight for top positions in the 2026 season, while others will have the opportunity to stand out in the midfield battle, with some teams potentially surprising.
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