Three of the current frontrunners in the F1 Team Standings will aggressively bring upgrades through 2026. However, one frontrunner has already shifted focus to 2027.
Among the four leading teams in the 2026 F1 season, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren are expected to aggressively develop through the rest of the year. They still see substantial performance available in their 2026 cars, especially Ferrari, which reportedly will fit a new power unit after the summer break.
However, there's one frontrunner who has already set their sights for next year. Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies said that they're in a "different situation" from last year when they used up most of their resources to chase McLaren in the 2025 championship. This time, particularly after the summer break, Red Bull will be more focused on developing their 2027 challenger.
The current landscape for the 2026 frontrunners
Midway through the season, here's how the race for the Constructors' Championship is shaping up for the frontrunners:
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 72 points
- Mercedes: 379
- Ferrari: 307
- McLaren: 220
- Red Bull Racing: 177
Mercedes has won 8 of the 11 races so far, including an incredible start of six straight wins. This dominant start to the season helped them build enough cushion as we head into the second half of the season.
However, George Russell encountered a problematic bout with car reliability, forcing him to a couple of DNFs in Canada and Belgium, along with a no-point finish in Monaco.
With Ferrari back in contention and McLaren finding their form, Mercedes will be hard-pressed to further develop the W17. Both championships are theirs to lose.
Look out for Ferrari's "significant" upgrade packages
Inspired by crossing the checkered flag first in the Barcelona-Catalunya and British Grand Prix, Ferrari has more motivation to develop their current challenger. They have a genuine shot at both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships, especially if Mercedes doesn't find a fix on their reliability issues.
Along with the new ADUO power unit, Autoracer reported that Ferrari will bring a significant floor upgrade for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Then, they will debut the upgraded power unit at their home race in Monza.
And there's more. The Scuderia is also planning another major upgrade package come Autumn, probably around the Azerbaijan to Singapore Grand Prix.
If the upgrades pan out, Ferrari will not only be a threat in the Constructors' championship. Lewis Hamilton is only 50 points behind Mercedes frontrunner Kimi Antonelli. With 11 more races to go on the calendar, Hamilton has enough time and available points to chase Antonelli.
