Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Ferrari will remain a strong competitor through the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season following Charles Leclerc's victory at the British Grand Prix.
Wolff spoke after Mercedes secured a podium finish with George Russell in second place at Silverstone. He noted that Ferrari had shown strong pace despite earlier predictions of a lack of energy on the track.
Ferrari has closed the gap after Mercedes won the first six races of the season. The Italian team took victories in two of the last three grands prix, including Leclerc's win and Lewis Hamilton's earlier success in Barcelona.
Ferrari principal Fred Vasseur downplayed any title fight, pointing to a 78-point deficit to Mercedes. He said the team remains focused on steady improvement ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix scheduled for 17-19 July.
Vasseur added that Mercedes still holds a small overall performance advantage, though Ferrari showed strength in longer races.