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Mercedes Unfazed Following McLaren’s Hungarian Grand Prix Triumph
Although McLaren snapped Mercedes’ dominance in Hungary, team principal Toto Wolff remains calm and insists there is no cause for panic.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-28T14:15:02.000Z - 2 min read
Following an undeniably dominant start to the Formula 1 season in which Mercedes impressively won the first six Grands Prix in a row, the shine has dimmed somewhat in recent weeks. Although the Brackley-based squad remains a formidable force, it has reached the top step of the podium 'only' twice in the most recent five races. This raises the question of whether the competition is truly closing in.
This period of relative restraint coincided with clear progress made by rival McLaren. Last weekend, that advancement was fully on display during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where the team stormed from pole position to a commanding victory, snapping a long run of Mercedes successes.
Despite the remarkable performance from the Woking outfit and the apparent challenge it poses, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains strikingly calm. The Austrian shows no sign of worry regarding the steps taken by his rivals and downplays the impact of recent results.
Indeed, Wolff went so far as to suggest that McLaren’s victory in Hungary could come as no surprise to insiders. He stated that "even artificial intelligence had predicted McLaren’s victory in Hungary," indicating that Mercedes had been keeping a close eye on their rivals' development and potential on specific circuits.
The team principal emphasizes that Mercedes’ overall performance across the season remains exceptional. The focus stays squarely on internal development and maximizing the potential of their own car. Recent wins by competitors are not viewed within the team as a fundamental threat to their championship ambitions.
For now, Mercedes looks ahead with confidence. Internal analysis confirms that the team is on track, acknowledging competitor challenges without losing sleep over them. The battle in Formula 1 remains as thrilling as ever, but Wolff’s eyes are firmly set on the long game.