Balanced 2026 F1 Season: Wolff Expects Mercedes To Share The Title Race

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expects the 2026 Formula One season to be closely fought rather than ruled by a single team, and does not want Mercedes to dominate even if the opportunity appears. Wolff believes the latest rule changes are likely to compress the field and produce a more even contest.

Reflecting on how competition should look, Wolff stressed the importance of jeopardy across a long campaign. "Maybe someone on a limited contract would want world dominance, winning 24 races of 24 and having the most successful campaign that any team has ever had," Wolff said, as quoted by PlanetF1.

Wolff underlined that entertainment value matters as much as success. "But that's not my perspective. I want to quote someone that I respect a lot,

who said to me once, 'We would like to win both championships on the last race, on the last corner, to have an exciting season, to provide good entertainment and excitement for fans and supporters. '" Wolff said that balance must be managed with care.

The Mercedes boss also pointed to the cost cap and more standardised resources as reasons to expect a tighter grid. "So that's why those big performance swings, or performance differences. I just don't see it now. " Wolff acknowledged that newer or smaller outfits may still face issues, but anticipated a more level field overall.

The 2025 season ended with McLaren on top after a dominant campaign, with the team capturing the constructors' championship by 364 points. Lando Norris edged Max Verstappen to the drivers' crown, while Mercedes secured second in the teams' standings through consistent scoring across the year.

George Russell completed the 2025 championship in fourth position, and team-mate Kimi Antonelli took seventh. Those results placed Mercedes as leading challengers behind McLaren, and have shaped expectations that the Silver Arrows could close the gap further when the 2026 campaign starts under the new regulations.

Key finishing positions and margins from last season are shown below, outlining the competitive picture that shapes current expectations.

Category	Team/Driver	Result
Constructors' champion	McLaren	Won by 364 points
Drivers' champion	Lando Norris	Beat Max Verstappen
Constructors' runner-up	Mercedes	Second place
Drivers' standings	George Russell	Fourth place
Drivers' standings	Kimi Antonelli	Seventh place

Formula One 2026 regulations and Mercedes pre-season testing

The 2026 Formula One rules introduce smaller cars and revised power-unit concepts, changes designed to reshape performance across the grid. These technical updates follow years of debate about costs, race quality and competitive balance, and they arrive with teams already searching for any legal advantage.

Mercedes has attracted attention after five days of pre-season running in Barcelona, where the team showed strong pace with the new package. Some rivals have raised questions over how Mercedes interpreted rules for power-unit testing, but officials have yet to indicate any formal breach or punishment.

Despite hints that the Silver Arrows may have made progress, Wolff repeated that domination by any constructor would be unlikely under current conditions. Wolff pointed towards the shared technical framework and financial rules, arguing that they limit potential gaps between the biggest teams and their closest rivals.

Formula One benchmark status for Red Bull and Max Verstappen

Wolff also assessed Red Bull’s prospects, as the team moves into 2026 with a self-developed power unit after parting ways with Honda. Development of that in-house system has drawn attention across the paddock, given Red Bull's strong recent record with Verstappen leading the line.

Asked about Red Bull's progress, Wolff said: "Well, I was hoping that they were worse than they are, because they've done a very good job. Their car, their power unit, are the benchmark at the moment, I would say. And then, obviously, you have Max in the car. That combination is strong. "

Wolff’s comments highlight a picture where Red Bull remains a key reference point, while McLaren and Mercedes look competitive under fresh rules. With cost caps, revised car sizes and new engine regulations all taking effect, leading teams anticipate a closer Formula One season, with titles potentially decided much later in the year.

Into the night pic.twitter.com/EadSO0FvtmMercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 11, 2026