Fans Favor Mercedes to Dethrone McLaren in 2026 F1 Season

A new RacingNews365 poll suggests fans believe Mercedes is the team most likely to end McLaren's dominance in the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season. With sweeping technical regulations on the horizon, over half of the voters see the Silver Arrows repeating their 2014 success, when they capitalized on a major rule change to begin a period of unprecedented dominance.

Why it matters:

The 2026 season represents the biggest regulatory overhaul in F1 history, fundamentally changing car design, aerodynamics, and power unit architecture. This creates a rare opportunity for the grid to be reshuffled, potentially ending the reign of the current top teams. For Mercedes, a team that has been on the back foot in the hybrid era, this is a critical chance to leverage its engineering prowess and return to the front of the grid.

By the numbers:

The fan poll conducted by RacingNews365 paints a clear picture of public perception heading into the new rules:

• Mercedes: 53.85% of the vote, a clear majority and more than double its nearest rival.
• Red Bull: 22.67%, the second-most favored team to challenge McLaren.
• Ferrari: A distant third with 9.72% of the votes.
• Aston Martin: 8.1%, closely following Ferrari under the leadership of Adrian Newey.

What's next:

While fan polls are not guarantees, they reflect the underlying narrative heading into 2026. The new regulations, which feature active aerodynamics and a simplified 50/50 combustion-electric power unit, are designed to level the playing field. All eyes will be on Mercedes to see if they can translate this historical precedent and engineering expectation into a car capable of challenging for championships, setting the stage for a new, thrilling era of competition.