Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has opened up on Mercedes' reliability concerns across the opening half of the 2026 Formula 1 season, conceding they have "bitten" the outfit.
The Silver Arrows have been exceptional across the opening 11 rounds and are by far the leading team on the grid.
The team holds a comfortable 72-point buffer over Ferrari, while Kimi Antonelli's six wins have helped the 19-year-old sensation build a 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton.
George Russell sits third in the standings with only two wins compared to his team-mate's tally, but has been plagued by Mercedes reliability gremlins.
Further race wins and significant points have been lost by the Brackley-based outfit due to power unit-related issues, often linked to the battery.
The issues have frustrated Wolff at the halfway point of the season, with the Austrian recognising the team could be out of reach of its rivals.
"I think we started the season very strong," Wolff told RacingNews365 during an exclusive interview.
"I think it was also our preparation that, as an integrated power unit-chassis company, or sports team, we were just able to really get the results in quite a dominant position.
"We were definitely bitten by reliability. We had three or four DNFs, soo we we probably lost 70-80 points due to non-finishes against our direct competitor, Ferrari, which beat us, because today we have 70 and a bit points advantage. You add another 70, that would mean a really solid, solid advantage.
"But we lost it, and obviously everybody's catching up. So there were more complicated grands prix.
"Actually, the last two wins of Ferrari are wins because we lost it; unlucky with the safety car [in Barcelona], Kimi retiring [finishing outside the points due to reliability issues] in Silverstone."
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Will Mercedes remain at the top?
While it has faced issues, Mercedes is very much the team to beat and the one Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull are all trying to catch.
This year's development race has proven key to that quest, with Mercedes yet to truly unleash an onslaught of new parts, unlike Ferrari.
Asked if a plan is in place to remain the top team, Wolff replied: "You can see that when somebody brings an upgrade, they almost like move a level up. So we had Ferrari or McLaren bringing an upgrade, and we didn't, and suddenly, we really needed to fight hard," he states.
"So yes, we will be bringing upgrades, but it all depends on when we can slot them in, because obviously you have to balance next year and this year.
"Again, the cost cap is a massive topic. How many parts can you produce and put on a car? So it's not yet clear when."
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