Why Mercedes are braced for a ‘more intense’ second half to 2026

Mercedes are preparing for a more intense second half of the F1 season thanks to the pressure that comes with fighting for glory, but the team insist they will take one race weekend at a time when racing returns.

The Brackley-based squad lead the Teams' Championship by 72 points and Kimi Antonelli tops the Drivers' Championship after winning six of the 11 Grands Prix so far.

Mercedes began the year in seemingly unstoppable fashion, with George Russell taking the first race victory of the year in Australia, before Antonelli's rampant run of five wins in a row followed.

However, since then there has been a shift – partly due to reliability issues – with more teams challenging at the sharp end. In the last five rounds Mercedes took two Grand Prix victories, with Ferrari pair Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc taking one apiece and McLaren's Lando Norris winning in Hungary before the break.

Despite that, Mercedes' leaders say they are feeling positive about their position at this stage of the season. Speaking on Mercedes' Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta explained that the progress the team has made has been remarkable.

"We've come through some difficult seasons," he said. "Last year we took an important step forward and this year we've taken another significant step. None of that was guaranteed. I tend to look at the positive side of things, and there is a lot to be pleased about.

"At the same time, we're only halfway through the season and there is still a great deal left to achieve. The focus has to remain on one race at a time. We can't become distracted by championship points or bigger picture conversations.

"We simply need to maximise every weekend, continue improving reliability, bring performance to the car and keep extracting everything possible from the package. There is still a long way to go."

Reliability has been a big issue in recent races for Mercedes, allowing their rivals to close what seemed like an insurmountable gap earlier in the season. Overall the team have likely lost more than 60 points due to problems such as battery and electrical issues.

Deputy Team Principal and Chief Communications Officer Bradley Lord acknowledged they have "had an outstanding first half of the season", but the squad need to take setbacks in their stride.

"There have been difficult moments, but that's the nature of Formula 1," he said. "It's an incredibly demanding sport. The opportunity to be part of a team that's fighting for World Championships is exactly why everyone in this organisation came into the sport in the first place.

"To be in a position where we're leading both championships and have the chance to convert that into success at the end of the year is a privilege. It's a challenge that everyone in the team is excited to take on."

With F1 racing returning in Zandvoort, from August 21-23, anticipation is building about whether Mercedes can finally get back to the heights they achieved winning eight Constructors' titles in a row between 2014 and 2021. Of course, there is also the opportunity for Kimi Antonelli to become the youngest ever champion.

"History tells us that the championship always changes after the summer shutdown," Resta explained. "The pressure increases on the teams that are leading, but equally it increases on the teams trying to catch up. The environment becomes more intense, and every result carries more weight.

"That's when you really see the strength and resilience of an organisation. It's where teams demonstrate whether they can handle the pressure and continue performing when the stakes become higher. I'm very interested to see that phase of the season unfold because it's often where championships are ultimately won or lost."