Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged Red Bull Racing’s strong performance during the current 2026 Formula 1 season. Wolff specifically highlighted Max Verstappen’s recent victories, stating that the team’s car development has been impressive. He anticipates a significant battle for the championship in the upcoming 2027 season.
Verstappen secured a dominant win at the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix, held at the Sepang International Circuit, earlier this month. He followed this with a commanding performance at the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit, where he won both the sprint race and the main Grand Prix.
Wolff praised Red Bull’s engineering efforts, noting how the RB22 car has been developed into a cohesive package. He commented on Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum performance when the car aligns with his driving preferences.
The Red Bull RB22, designed under the 2026 technical regulations, features significant aerodynamic changes and a new Red Bull Ford Powertrains hybrid engine. The regulations eliminated the MGU-H and substantially uprated the MGU-K, creating a near-equal split between combustion and electrical power. Active aerodynamics, with movable front and rear wings, are also a key component.
In contrast, Mercedes introduced a major aerodynamic upgrade package for their W17 car at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, which reportedly did not deliver the expected performance gains. This led to a period of investigation for the team.
During the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Mercedes implemented an unusual strategy, running George Russell with an older car specification while Kimi Antonelli continued with the updated W17. Wolff admitted that the upgraded car proved more challenging to drive and had not yet met performance expectations.
As of October 11, 2026, Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers’ Championship. Max Verstappen currently sits fourth in the standings, closing the gap to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes holds the lead, with Ferrari in second position. Red Bull Racing is currently placed fourth, behind McLaren, despite Verstappen’s recent victories.
‘You need to take your hat off for what Red Bull has done this season, how they have developed the car and how it’s all come together as a package,’ Wolff stated. ‘And then you put Max Verstappen in the car, and when he feels that this thing is driving like he wants it to drive, then these are the results.’
Wolff concluded that the 2027 season is set for an intense competition among all teams, with Red Bull expected to be a strong contender. He also noted the competitiveness of the Red Bull Ford power unit.
