Martin Brundle believes the Formula 1 world championship is heading into the summer break with far more uncertainty than many expected, arguing that McLaren’s breakthrough victory in Hungary has put Mercedes and championship leader Kimi Antonelli on notice.
The Sky F1 commentator sees Norris’ triumph at the Hungaroring as a warning shot from McLaren that the Woking team could yet become a major force in the second half of the season.
Writing in his post-race Sky Sports F1 column, Brundle pointed to McLaren’s latest development package and the increasingly compressed battle at the front.
“If McLaren have made a decent upgrade step which translates well to other circuits, this was the team's 14th Hungaroring victory, and with the top four ever closer, this championship is far from over,” he wrote.
That assessment is particularly significant because Antonelli and Mercedes still hold the upper hand in the standings.
But Brundle believes Hungary demonstrated that McLaren may now possess the pace to challenge consistently, turning what had looked like a Mercedes-controlled campaign into a much more volatile contest.
McLaren’s upgrade changes the picture
McLaren arrived in Budapest with fresh upgrades and left with both victory and renewed momentum. Norris controlled the race superbly, while the team’s overall performance suggested that its gains were not circuit-specific.
For Brundle, the key question is whether that step forward will carry over to the remaining tracks on the calendar. If it does, Antonelli’s championship lead may suddenly appear far less secure.
The former Grand Prix driver stressed that the mathematics of the title race still leave enormous room for change.
“There are still 291 points available assuming all the remaining races take place given the Middle East conflict,” Brundle continued.
With such a large points haul still available, even a modest swing in competitiveness could dramatically alter the championship landscape.
Calendar uncertainty adds another twist
Brundle also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the closing stages of the 2026 season. The Qatar Grand Prix and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remain under scrutiny because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and Formula 1 is preparing contingency plans for a possible European replacement race later in the year.
The sport has already demonstrated its flexibility after the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix were cancelled in April. F1 has since confirmed that Bahrain will be relocated to Sepang in Malaysia from 2–4 October.
“On that subject, the Bahrain GP will now be run at the very popular Sepang circuit in Malaysia,” commented Brundle.
“This is the same impressive lateral thinking and flexibility F1 and its partners showed during the pandemic and I applaud it.
“It sounds as if there will definitely be a European replacement race in late November or early December if Qatar and Abu Dhabi can't take place.
“We may need to fit some headlights and wipers for that race but the teams and drivers will handle it in their stride as usual.”
Read also: Imola emerges as backup plan if Middle East F1 finale can't happenBrundle’s comments underline a broader point: the championship battle may be influenced not only by pace but also by an evolving calendar.
As Formula 1 pauses for its summer break, Mercedes and Antonelli remain the targets.
Yet after Hungary, Brundle believes McLaren and Norris have transformed themselves from occasional challengers into a genuine championship threat, ensuring that the fight for the 2026 crown remains very much alive.
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