Former Haas Formulation 1 workforce principal Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes will face threats from different groups this yr because of the excessive price of improvement within the 2026 season.
After the primary two rounds of the season, Mercedes leads the constructors’ standings with 98 factors, 31 factors greater than Ferrari in second. George Russell gained the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and Chinese language dash race, and his team-mate Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden F1 win on the Chinese language Grand Prix.
Whereas the Brackley outfit has dominated the season-opening double-header, Steiner warned in opposition to leaping to the conclusion that the sturdy streak will proceed to the tip of the yr.
“The one factor that I might say is that we bounce to the conclusion, ‘Oh this might be now Mercedes till the tip of the yr,'” Steiner stated throughout The Pink Flags Podcast.
“I believe the opposite Mercedes [powered] groups will be taught extra about their automotive, learn how to handle their PU, McLaren greater than anyone else. I believe Mercedes might be sturdy, however will any person take the struggle to them? I believe so. I believe at some stage any person will take the struggle to them as a result of the event this yr might be super.
Guenther Steiner
Picture by: Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
“How folks get higher, and the way folks be taught to get extra out of the automotive. I believe Mercedes is greatest ready for that – is best ready than anyone else. However I believe the opposite groups have gotten extra within the pipeline to find, to make their vehicles higher with stuff already there. To not develop, to get extra out of the bundle they have.”
The subsequent spherical of the F1 season will happen on the Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix, starting at present from 27-29 March. There’ll then be a five-week break because of the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in April, earlier than the Miami Grand Prix from 1-3 Could.
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