Russell doubts rivals will bring more major F1 upgrades in 2026

Mercedes driver George Russell says he would be surprised if any rival introduced another major upgrade before the end of the 2026 season. In comments reported by RacingNews365 Nederland, he pointed to recent updates from Red Bull and McLaren and said he hoped the competitive order would remain stable. His prediction comes as Mercedes brings a substantial package of its own.

Russell described the Mercedes update as a big step on its own, but said the team’s development from May to October followed a normal trajectory. He said the main aim was to add downforce while preserving the car’s low drag and straight-line speed. He believes Mercedes has a strong enough base to fight for wins regularly.

Russell also said Mercedes had been surprised by how frequently its rivals had introduced updates. Producing large quantities of parts within the budget cap had been difficult for his team, he said, while suggesting that competitors might have made different choices.

Russell hopes the new parts will return Mercedes to the front at this type of circuit after six races he described as more difficult.