Mercedes handed warning over new threat to 2026 F1 dominance

The German outfit entered the 2026 campaign as the overwhelming favourite to dominate the season and has so far lived up to those expectations, claiming victory in eight of the 11 Grands Prix held so far. However, ahead of the next race weekend in the Netherlands, Herbert believes Mercedes could face an emerging threat from McLaren.

The former Benetton F1 driver admitted that, if he were in Mercedes’ position, his biggest concern at this stage of the season would be McLaren, particularly after the team’s impressive showing at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“If I were in Antonelli and Mercedes’ shoes, my main concern right now would be McLaren,” Herbert said, speaking to a betting platform. “On the eve of the break, they seem to have made the most significant progress and at the moment they seem to be in a really good position.”

The 62-year-old, however, suggested that McLaren’s resurgence could provide one of the most intriguing narratives of the remainder of the campaign. He believes it would be particularly interesting to see how championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes respond if the pressure from their rivals begins to mount.

“It would be fantastic to see McLaren back in contention for the Drivers’ Championship with Lando Norris. Then we would see how Antonelli and Mercedes would handle the pressure. There could be another dramatic turn of events this season,” he concluded.

For now, however, Antonelli remains the overwhelming favourite to win the Drivers’ Championship. The Italian currently sits a staggering 50 points clear of his nearest title challenger, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari.

Earlier, Herbert identified two factors he believes are contributing to George Russell’s struggles at Mercedes. The British driver was widely tipped to challenge for the 2026 Drivers’ Championship but has instead found himself playing second fiddle to his younger teammate Antonelli for much of the campaign.

In his analysis of Russell’s struggles, Herbert pointed to Antonelli’s outstanding performances and the uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen’s future as two factors that could be affecting the Briton.

The former F1 driver also emphasised the importance of having a stable and assured working environment, suggesting that Russell may currently be lacking that sense of certainty amid his recent struggles.