Mercedes admits losing F1's fastest car status amid McLaren, Ferrari surge

Mercedes might still be at the top of the 2026 Formula 1 constructors' championship, but the team acknowledges it no longer possesses the fastest car on the grid. The team's dominance has been challenged by the resurgent McLaren and Ferrari squads.

Mercedes currently leads the constructors' standings, with drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell holding the top two spots in the drivers' classification after winning eight of the season's first 10 races. However, this momentum has faltered as McLaren, led by Lando Norris, secured victories in the last two races in Hungary and the Netherlands. Ferrari has also revived its challenge with significant upgrade packages.

Antonelli, who finished second in the Dutch Grand Prix, admitted that Mercedes must face the reality of its speed advantage being overtaken by its main rivals. "We are clearly no longer the fastest car on the grid; we might be second or third, and McLaren has made a huge leap, especially since Hungary after bringing a big upgrade package," he stated.

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We are clearly no longer the fastest car on the grid; we might be second or third, and McLaren has made a huge leap, especially since Hungary after bringing a big upgrade package.

The resurgence of its competitors has put pressure on Mercedes, with Ferrari now in second place in the constructors' standings, 87 points behind the Brackley-based team. Mercedes principal Toto Wolff conceded that his team does not have the financial capacity to match the development pace of McLaren and Ferrari, who can introduce major upgrades mid-season. "We don't have the money to bring new developments to the car, and we try to distribute it equally throughout the season based on calculations of when we can bring the biggest upgrades and optimize championship point collection," Wolff said.

This situation leaves Mercedes reliant on the advantage built up early in the season when Antonelli and Russell won the first six races, before renewed competition threatened their dominance.

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We don't have the money to bring new developments to the car, and we try to distribute it equally throughout the season based on calculations of when we can bring the biggest upgrades and optimize championship point collection.