Mercedes leads the 2026 Formula 1 season after three rounds, with Kimi Antonelli topping the drivers' standings and his team 45 points ahead of Ferrari in constructors. The championship leader anticipates Ferrari closing the gap thanks to the new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities rule. Antonelli won the last two races in China and Japan.
Mercedes has dominated the early 2026 Formula 1 campaign, securing pole and victory in every grand prix so far. Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell in the drivers' standings, while Mercedes holds a 45-point constructors' lead over Ferrari. The team's power unit offers at least a 15bhp advantage over Ferrari's and excels in battery harvesting under the electrical ruleset, aiding cornering speed for Antonelli and Russell. McLaren, as a Mercedes customer, trails due to less engine knowledge and an overweight MCL40, unlike Mercedes' W17 chassis. Antonelli, who won in China and Japan, addressed the competition in an interview with Sky Sports. “I know there will be major changes,” he said. “For example, the ADUO that has been granted to Ferrari, which will allow them to develop the engine, they will definitely get much closer because their car is already strong. If they manage to improve the engine as well, they’ll close the gap even more.” He added that Mercedes plans updates and remains focused on performance. The Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system allows power units 2-4% below the FIA benchmark one upgrade, with more for those over 4%. Originally evaluated quarterly at rounds six, 12 and 18, the first checkpoint may now align with the Miami Grand Prix next month, advanced due to Saudi Arabian and Bahrain cancellations. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff cautioned against overconfidence after Japan, where Antonelli capitalized on a safety car pitstop to overtake McLaren's Oscar Piastri. “Miami is going to be, for me, also a restart,” Wolff said.
