Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff does not expect or want "world dominance" from the Silver Arrows in 2026, predicting Formula One's rule changes will make the sport more balanced.

Sweeping regulation changes have been brought in ahead of the new F1 campaign, with cars becoming smaller and power-unit alterations also coming into force.

The new rules are expected to shake up the grid after McLaren dominated last year, winning the constructors' championship by 364 points and seeing Lando Norris edge out Max Verstappen for the drivers' title.

Mercedes finished as runners-up in the team standings and saw George Russell finish fourth in the drivers' table, with his team-mate Kimi Antonelli placing seventh. 

The Silver Arrows are tipped to improve in 2026, having made waves following five days of pre-season testing in Barcelona last month, though some teams have complained about the way they have interpreted rules concerning the testing of power units.

But Wolff does not believe any constructor will dominate the grid this year, nor does he want to see his own team pull clear of their competitors. 

"Maybe someone on a limited contract would want world dominance, winning 24 races of 24 and having the most successful campaign that any team has ever had," Wolff said, as quoted by PlanetF1. "But that's not my perspective. 

"I want to quote someone that I respect a lot, who said to me once, 'We would like to win both championships on the last race, on the last corner, to have an exciting season, to provide good entertainment and excitement for fans and supporters.' 

"That's a balance you need to strike correctly. But you know how Formula One has developed. 

"Most teams work on equal equipment under the same cost cap. So that's why those big performance swings, or performance differences... I just don't see it now.

"Obviously, you look at the newcomers or a smaller team, yeah, there might be some challenges, but other than that, I think it will be much more balanced."

Into the night  pic.twitter.com/EadSO0Fvtm

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 11, 2026

And Wolff also believes Red Bull are the current frontrunners, having split from Honda to build their own power unit ahead of the new campaign. 

Asked about Red Bull's progress, Wolff said: "Well, I was hoping that they were worse than they are, because they've done a very good job.

"Their car, their power unit, are the benchmark at the moment, I would say. And then, obviously, you have Max in the car. That combination is strong."