Why Mercedes are braced for a ‘more intense’ second half to the 2026 F1 season
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team is preparing for a competitive second half of the 2026 season despite leading both the Teams' and Drivers' championships. The team is focusing on reliability and performance consistency as rivals like Ferrari and McLaren close the gap.
Why it matters
Formula 1 is a multi-billion dollar global sport, and the competitive dynamics of the championship influence team valuations and sponsorship investments.
Why Mercedes are braced for a ‘more intense’ second half to 2026 At the halfway point of the season, Mercedes lead the Teams' Championship by 72 points, with Kimi Antonelli topping the Drivers' Championship by 50 points.
Mercedes are preparing for a more intense second half of the F1 season thanks to the pressure that comes with fighting for glory, but the team insist they will take one race weekend at a time when racing returns.
The Brackley-based squad lead the Teams' Championship by 72 points and Kimi Antonelli tops the Drivers' Championship after winning six of the 11 Grands Prix so far.
Mercedes began the year in seemingly unstoppable fashion, with George Russell taking the first race victory of the year in Australia, before Antonelli's rampant run of five wins in a row followed.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in