Wolff admits Mercedes ‘simply don’t know’ what rivals can do

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff expressed cautious optimism after the Barcelona Shakedown, stating he was "really happy" with the smooth integration of the power unit and chassis. While acknowledging a solid three-day programme with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Wolff admitted the team "simply don't know" their true performance level against rivals like Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari. He emphasized building an "upward trajectory" for the 2026 regulations rather than immediately focusing on a championship or fearing "failure." Wolff praised Russell as a deserving favourite and expressed certainty in Antonelli's continued development, though he cautioned against immediate comparisons to his experienced teammate.