‘We Are In for a Real Battle’ – Toto’s Chinese GP Preview

From Melbourne to Shanghai, Oceania to Asia, there’s more F1 action to look forward to this weekend.

Round two of the 2026 World Championship takes place in China, with the Shanghai International Circuit also set to host the first Sprint weekend of the season.

Debriefing Down Under

“Melbourne was an intense first race weekend under these new regulations and one that delivered plenty of excitement,” says Toto.

“As always with a big change, there are things to tweak and improve, and some negativity to overcome, but that’s a normal part of the process and it’s important we listen to the fans and understand what’s important to them.

“There was plenty of racing through the field with drivers being challenged to get the most out of their cars.

“As teams gain knowledge and the field converges, I am confident that will only get better too. Our focus is on doing the work required to be in that fight.”

Expecting a Battle in Shanghai

“We faced several challenges in Australia, which was to be expected with such new cars,” says Toto.

“The team handled them well and overcame them to deliver the result we wanted. We came away with many learnings and areas to improve, which we will look to do in China.

“As it is a Sprint weekend with just one hour of practice, it is going to be even more difficult to get the car in a good place before the first competitive session.

“We saw a close fight at the front with Ferrari last weekend, and several other teams who haven’t shown their full potential yet, so we know we are in for a real battle.”

An Important F1 Market

“Hopefully as a sport we can put on another good show this weekend,” says Toto.

“F1 continues to go from strength-to-strength around the world, and China is no exception.

“We’ve seen brilliant crowds and huge interest since we returned to Shanghai in 2024. It is an important country for both our sport and Mercedes as an automotive manufacturer, and we look forward to racing there for many years to come.”