Mercedes streak — Red Bull wobble
Mercedes has won every race so far in 2026, sparking debate about how long their edge will last as rivals adjust to new regs. (motorsport.com) Red Bull admitted “significant shortcomings” with their 2026 package after scoring just 12 points across the opening two race weekends, a public red flag ahead of Suzuka (Mar. 27–29). (skysports.com)
George Russell converted pole into victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as Mercedes secured a controlled 1-2 at Albert Park with Kimi Antonelli second. (formula1.com) Kimi Antonelli then converted pole into his maiden Grand Prix win in Shanghai, with Russell again finishing second to give Mercedes another one-two. (formula1.com) Russell leads the 2026 drivers’ standings on 51 points with Antonelli on 47, and Mercedes have extended a commanding lead in the constructors’ table after two rounds. (si.com) Red Bull have scored just 12 points from the opening two race weekends — their lowest two-race return since 2015 — and sporting director Laurent Mekies publicly said the RB21 showed “significant shortcomings” and that Verstappen retired in Shanghai with a coolant fault. (skysports.com) Independent telemetry and technical analysis flagged Red Bull’s main deficits as poor rear‑end stability, lower apex speeds and less efficient energy recovery in corners, leaving Verstappen nearly a second off pole in Shanghai despite competitive straight‑line speed. (planetf1.com) Mekies said the team has “learned so much” and expects to be more competitive from the Japanese round at Suzuka, which runs March 27–29 and will be the first real test of Red Bull’s planned updates. (skysports.com)
