Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has declined to name Kimi Antonelli as the Formula 1 drivers' championship favourite despite the Italian driver's 50-point lead.
Antonelli recovered from a grid penalty to finish third at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton ended fifth after his own penalty, while George Russell recovered to seventh. The result extended Antonelli's advantage to 50 points over Hamilton and 59 over Russell.
Wolff said he remains cautious with 11 races and two sprint races remaining in 2026. "It's too early to say. I'm superstitious, even though the gap is 50 points, there's so many races to go," he said. He also noted ongoing reliability concerns that may force engine penalties later in the season.
Wolff suggested Monza, Antonelli's home race, or Baku as possible venues for a power unit change. He praised Antonelli's drive from seventh on the grid but added the team could have finished higher without the penalty.
