Mercedes are having a brilliant 2026 season, no question about it. Kimi Antonelli has been absolutely clinical, winning eight of the first eleven races and sitting 50 points clear of his nearest rival. But former F1 driver Johnny Herbert reckons the German outfit might be getting a bit too comfortable. Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Herbert dropped a warning that McLaren could become Mercedes' biggest headache going forward, and honestly, it's hard to argue with him.

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Herbert pointed to McLaren's recent performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix as the sign that something's shifting. The team looked quick, they looked competitive, and they've clearly made some serious progress over the summer break. If he were sitting in Antonelli or Mercedes' position right now, Herbert said his focus would be on watching McLaren, not looking over his shoulder at Ferrari. That's a pretty bold statement given everything Mercedes have achieved so far, but the Benetton legend seems convinced this is where the real threat will come from.

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What makes this interesting is how it could play out for Antonelli and Mercedes if the pressure really starts mounting. Lando Norris and McLaren breathing down their necks would be a completely different scenario compared to dominating the field like they have been. Herbert reckons it'd be fascinating to see how the championship leader handles that kind of pressure when it actually matters. He's suggesting there could be some dramatic twists still to come this season if McLaren gets properly into the mix.

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Away from the McLaren story, Herbert also weighed in on George Russell's struggles at Mercedes. The British driver was expected to be fighting for the championship but has been thoroughly outperformed by Antonelli. Herbert thinks two things are affecting Russell right now, Antonelli's brilliant performances combined with the uncertainty around Max Verstappen's future. Russell needs a stable working environment to perform at his best, and right now that just doesn't seem to be there. It's a tough spot for a driver of Russell's caliber, but that's how close the competition is getting in 2026.

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