Mercedes Warned: F1 Title Fight Far From Over Despite Lead

When Mercedes stormed to victory in the first six rounds of the Formula 1 season, many assumed the title was all but wrapped up. But former F1 driver Stefan Johansson sees it differently: the championship battle is still wide open.

Johansson believes Mercedes' healthy leads in both standings are far from decisive. In the last five grands prix, the Brackley-based squad has been caught by rivals, with Ferrari winning twice and McLaren once, shrinking the once-comfortable gap.

“It’s already exciting,” he told F1. “It’s obviously more than one team [in the mix] now. I think that’s going to even up even more as the years go by.”

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New regulations this year brought sweeping changes to aerodynamics and engines. Mercedes jumped out of the blocks, but their advantage has seemingly shrunk over the past couple of months. Johansson points to other teams understanding their cars better, setting up a tense second half.

“Mercedes clearly had a pretty big advantage at the beginning of the year, but more and more teams are understanding how you manage the car and everything, because that’s a big part of it,” he explained. “It’s going to close up, for sure. I think the championship is far from over.”

Kimi Antonelli currently holds a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings, aided by six victories. Mercedes also lead the constructors' table by 72 points over Ferrari. But with half the season still to go, the momentum could shift at any moment.

The pressure is now on Mercedes to maintain their pace, while the chasing pack continues to probe for weaknesses. The second half of the season promises to be a test of adaptability and mental strength. One thing is certain: the drama of the 2026 F1 season is far from over.