Photo: Race Pictures

F1 2026 doesn't give Wolff the domination vibes 2014 did: Here's why

20:45, 25 Dec 2025

byNorberto Mujica

According to Mercedes F1's CEO, team principal and co-owner, Toto Wolff, the F1 2026 pre-season sensations are not reminiscent of 2014.

"Whether those targets were set ambitious enough and whether those targets have been set in the right place in terms of priorities, only the future will show."

- Toto Wolff.

George Russell driving the Mercedes W16 in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Race Pictures

For the second time in the sport, Mercedes faces an engine regulation change. Last time out, the Germans relentlessly dominated Formula One in an eight year period that yielded 8 Constructors' titles and seven Drivers' championships. "Landing in 2014, I kind of had [a good] feeling already in the winter when we were the first ones running a full car dyno,” Wolff told GPblog.

“The engine was more reliable than it seemed with the other people. And obviously, day one testing, nobody did some laps, we did. The same on day two."

According to the Austrian team boss, the situation back then cannot be likened to that of today. “So, it's not comparable I would say," he continued. "It's also that the grid is just much more competitive than it was in previous years.”

“It's super difficult to predict, because we set ourselves targets that we are on track to meet.

“But whether those targets were set ambitious enough and whether those targets have been set in the right place in terms of priorities, only the future will show.”

F1 2026 is fast approaching and Mercedes has a defined target

That future will arrive in a matter of weeks when the F1 teams head to Barcelona for the first test prior to the start of the 2026 season.

“This is not far away, eight weeks or so,” he said after the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi. “It's actually awful to say. Today was the first day in the morning when I thought, ‘I don't want to go to a race track’.”

For Mercedes there is but one goal: “[We'll do] everything in our power to come out with a car, with a power unit that is competitive enough,” Wolff concluded.

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