Ralf Schumacher makes a bold prediction for the 2026 F1 season: Mercedes will win races, but the Drivers’ Championship could go to Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season is fast approaching, and Ralf Schumacher is confident: while Mercedes will take victories, the World Championship could belong to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Brackley-based team arrives in Australia a step ahead of Ferrari — which still impressed during Bahrain testing — and will start the season as favourites. However, the ultimate winner of the Drivers’ Championship may not be obvious, as George Russell faces competition from a more mature and motivated teammate.
With just over a week to go before the lights go out for the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, Italian fans will see the first winner of the season crowned in a race that represents a bridge between the past and the future of the sport. The spotlight will be on not only car performance, finally exposed after pre-season testing, but also the actual spectacle promised by the new regulations.
All teams are aiming for victory: from Mercedes, whose car appears most ready and fastest, to Red Bull, currently projected as the last of the top teams. Ferrari also hopes to challenge, having shown in Sakhir that it is eager to take risks ahead of a crucial season for the future of Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and team principal Frédéric Vasseur.
Schumacher: “Mercedes fastest, but Antonelli will win”
The Maranello team will have to contend with the powerhouse run by Toto Wolff. As seen in 2014, the German squad is adept at adapting to regulation changes affecting Power Units and, according to paddock experts, starts 2026 with an advantage. However, the identity of the potential Drivers’ Champion is less clear. While George Russell’s experience will be a key factor, Ralf Schumacher is backing Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“Mercedes today has two outstanding drivers in George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli —” he explained on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast — “They are the ones with the best chances of winning because the car has been fast from the very beginning. But my feeling is that Antonelli will take the World Championship.”
As the season opener approaches, all eyes will be on Australia to see whether Schumacher’s prediction comes true and whether Antonelli can capitalize on Mercedes’ pace to secure the title ahead of his accomplished teammate.
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