P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has not been in a position to fight for an F1 title across the last several years – could that change in 2026?
Former driver Karun Chandhok declared George Russell as the championship favorite for the upcoming F1 season. Mercedes impressed at a recent shakedown event in Barcelona, completing 502 laps – the most among all teams. Rumors about the strength of Mercedes’ new power unit started circulating last year, positioning them as potential leaders in the new era of Formula 1. Chandhok emphasized Mercedes’ position as a works team as a significant advantage going into the season. Mercedes supplying power units to McLaren, Williams, and Alpine could also play a key role in their success. With the integrated workforce of Mercedes working across both sites, Chandhok believes Russell has a strong edge as the title favorite for the season.
