Toto Wolff warned of “political knives” as Mercedes aim to extend their perfect start to the 2026 Formula 1 season at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have each won a race, each leading Mercedes one-twos after early battles with Ferrari in Australia and China. Mercedes sit 31 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, with Russell four points ahead of team-mate Antonelli in the Drivers’ standings. Charles Leclerc is 17 points behind Russell, and Lewis Hamilton a further point back.
Leclerc, who has finished fourth in each of the last three Suzuka races, told Sky Sports F1 that Ferrari face a “big gap” to Mercedes and called the Silver Arrows “extremely strong.” “They are, for sure, the big favourites,” he added, while noting this season will be decided by development.
One route for rivals to close the gap is through three periods of Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) during the season. Teams judged to be at least two per cent behind the manufacturer with the best-performing internal combustion engine are awarded development chances. The first ADUO was due after the sixth round in Monaco, though the schedule may shift after cancellations earlier in the year.
There are also ongoing debates about the current racing spectacle and whether heavy reliance on electrical deployment has produced a yoyo pattern of overtakes and re-overtakes. The new 2026 power units combine 50 per cent electric drive with 50 per cent internal combustion.
Wolff said: “We have a good car, at this stage, that is capable of winning. Let’s see what kind of political knives are going to come out in the next few weeks and months. But at the moment it’s a car that is capable of winning.”
Wolff also stressed the need to protect young Kimi Antonelli. In China, Antonelli became F1’s youngest-ever pole-sitter at 19 years and 201 days and turned that into his maiden Grand Prix victory. Now in only his second season after a mixed debut campaign—three podiums but several mistakes—Antonelli has shown growth and maturity.
Wolff recalled the Italian’s response to setbacks, including a crash in final practice in Australia that the team repaired in time for him to qualify on the front row and finish second. “When he went off on the Saturday morning, it was not like he carried the whole thing into the briefing,” Wolff said. “He came in and said, ‘that wasn’t good’, but he kind of compartmentalised and said, ‘OK, let’s move on’. And then it wasn’t there anymore.”
Wolff noted Antonelli’s strong interpersonal skills—how he connects with mechanics, engineers, comms and marketing—and warned that attention can be a risk. “We also need to shield him from that, because people take advantage because he really struggles to say no,” he said.
Formula 1 now heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix.