Ralf Schumacher discusses the challenges facing Mercedes and World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli personally in the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season
Although Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli went into the summer break with a 50-point lead, Ralf Schumacher believes the 2026 World Championship battle could get exciting again when Formula 1 returns from the break this weekend at Zandvoort.
“Mercedes needs to come out with updates now,” the expert told Sky, explaining: “McLaren is closing in, and Ferrari is capable of winning races. It’s going to be close. And you can never underestimate Red Bull with Max Verstappen, even if the car is still a bit tricky.”
“That’s why something has to happen at Mercedes now after the summer break,” Schumacher said. Although the Silver Arrows dominated at the start of the season and won all six of the first Grands Prix, In the following five races, however, they managed “only” two wins.
Ferrari also triumphed twice during this period, with one victory going to McLaren. In addition, Schumacher believes that even the 19-year-old championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, could personally run into difficulties in the second half of the season.
“What definitely makes Antonelli worthy of the world championship is that he can get a little more out of the car than, say, George Russell at the moment,” the expert says, explaining that it’s “incredible” how well Antonelli has performed so far.
Schumacher: Antonelli Mustn’t “Get Tense”
At the same time, however, he emphasizes in the Backstage Boxengasse podcast that the Italian must now keep a “cool head” and not lose his “ease.” And that, Schumacher warns, is not at all easy for such a young driver.
“I think there’s going to be another phase where even Kimi will suddenly get tense,” he says, revealing: “Every athlete goes through that.” This applies to Antonelli in particular, he adds, because his rise to Formula 1 happened “extremely quickly.”
The Italian must therefore be careful, according to Schumacher, who says that “management has a role to play” here—namely, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his team. “Everyone wants something from him. Everyone is pulling at him now,” says Schumacher, referring to Antonelli’s growing popularity.
That’s why the team needs to “protect him a little” now, the expert says. Antonelli will be driving only his second Formula 1 season in 2026. His closest rival in the World Championship is currently Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who trails by 50 points, while teammate George Russell is already 59 points behind in third place.