Bernie Collins says Mercedes driver rivalry is keeping F1 title race wide open

Bernie Collins says Mercedes has left the door open in the 2026 Formula 1 title fight because Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have been too busy fighting each other. The former Aston Martin strategist believes that intra-team rivalry has allowed Ferrari, McLaren, and even Max Verstappen to remain genuine contenders despite Antonelli holding a 50-point advantage at the summer break.

Why it matters:

What looked like a Mercedes procession after six straight wins has evolved into a tight development battle. With 12 races remaining and major upgrades still landing up and down the grid, the championship is now anyone's game.

The details:

• At the summer break, Antonelli leads Hamilton by 50 points, with Russell another nine behind. Leclerc and Norris are within reach, while Verstappen trails by 110 points.
• After dominating early, Mercedes has won just two of the last five races. Ferrari broke through in Barcelona and Silverstone with aggressive upgrade packages, while McLaren's Hungary update delivered Norris his first win of the year.
• Internal rivalry: Collins highlighted the early-season squabbles between Antonelli and Russell, pointing to Barcelona where their battle cost the team a shot at victory and handed Hamilton a clear win.
• Wolff's intervention: Toto Wolff has since made it clear that Mercedes will no longer tolerate intra-team warfare, stating the priority is now securing race wins for the constructors' championship even if it means favoring one driver.

What's next:

Collins expects momentum to swing repeatedly through the final 12 rounds as teams bring further upgrades. She suggests as many as seven drivers could realistically fight for wins, and Verstappen's history of erasing large deficits means the title race likely won't be settled until the closing stages.