Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

CEO/Founder: Toto Wolff
Team Chief: Toto Wolff
Technical Chief: James Allison
Sports Director: Ron Meadows

Chassis 2026: F1W17

Engine: Mercedes M17 E Performance
Tyre: Pirelli

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Reserve Driver: Vesti Frederik

2026 Season

Mercedes officially unveiled its 2026 Formula 1 car on February 2.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli remain the team's two race drivers after a highly successful first season together in 2025. George claimed two victories and finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship, while Kimi showed significant progress throughout his rookie campaign, securing several podiums and his first Sprint pole position in Miami.

Fred Vesti, another graduate of the team's junior programme, has been promoted to the role of Third Driver. Fred will play a key role in simulator development, attend race weekends and combine these duties with an active racing programme in IMSA.

The team has also welcomed several new Development Drivers. Doriane Pin, the reigning F1 Academy champion, has been promoted from the junior programme and will take on additional responsibilities in her new role.

Formula 2 race winner Joshua Dürksen also joins the Development Driver line-up. The Paraguayan will carry out simulator work and take part in several Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions alongside his Formula 2 campaign.

Former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson, who played a key role in the development of the 2026 car, will continue to support the team in the simulator while also overseeing the simulator driver roster.

Following the unveiling of a refreshed team logo featuring a cleaner and more refined look, the W17 introduces a striking new livery designed to mark the beginning of this new era with a strong expression of identity and evolution.

A dynamic PETRONAS green line forms the central element of the design, running low along the car to emphasise speed and precision while creating a seamless transition from Mercedes' iconic silver to the team's deep black. The upper section of the sidepods features the AMG-inspired diamond pattern, blending into the famous Mercedes three-pointed star motif on the engine cover.

 

Car

At the heart of the W17 is the new hybrid Power Unit developed by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), designed to comply with the 2026 regulations:

• An almost 50:50 split between internal combustion engine power and electrical power.
• The removal of the MGU-H and a major step forward for the MGU-K, which increases from 120 kW to 350 kW, alongside new energy recovery and deployment strategies.
• Advanced sustainable fuel developed by PETRONAS, designed as a "drop-in" solution capable of delivering high performance while reducing lifecycle carbon emissions, in line with Formula 1's sustainability goals.

The Power Unit has been closely integrated with the W17's cooling architecture and aerodynamic concept to ensure thermal robustness and energy efficiency throughout every phase of the lap, from heavy energy-recovery braking zones to long full-throttle sections. The integrated Brackley-Brixworth approach has been a central theme in the team's preparation for this new generation of Formula 1.

The W17 has been designed around the new chassis regulations, which introduce a shorter wheelbase (-200 mm), reduced width (-100 mm) and a minimum weight approximately 30 kg lower than the previous generation.

Active aerodynamics, featuring movable front and rear wings, will help balance drag and downforce requirements between straights and corners.

Other changes include narrower front and rear tyres, designed to reduce drag and mass in line with the aerodynamic reset, as well as revised suspension geometry. The Drag Reduction System has also been removed, replaced by increased electrical energy deployment through Boost and Overtake modes to encourage closer and more competitive racing.

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History

The origins: the Silver Arrows and the tragedy of Le Mans (1954-1955)

Mercedes-Benz entered the Formula 1 World Championship in 1954 with the W196, a revolutionary car featuring direct fuel injection and desmodromic valves. Under the leadership of Alfred Neubauer, the team won the 1954 and 1955 Drivers' Championships with Juan Manuel Fangio. One of the most iconic versions was the so-called "Monza Type" or Streamliner, distinguished by its enclosed-wheel bodywork designed for high-speed circuits.

Despite its sporting dominance, Mercedes withdrew from motor racing at the end of 1955. The decision followed the tragic accident at that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Pierre Levegh's Mercedes was involved in the deadliest disaster in motorsport history. The manufacturer would remain absent from Formula 1 as a works constructor for the next 55 years.

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The return as an engine supplier and the McLaren partnership (1993-2009)

Mercedes gradually returned to Formula 1 during the 1990s, initially through Ilmor Engineering. After supplying Sauber in 1993, Mercedes became an official partner of McLaren in 1995. The partnership delivered three Drivers' Championships, with Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and 1999 and Lewis Hamilton in 2008, as well as the 1998 Constructors' Championship, establishing Mercedes as one of the leading engine manufacturers of the V10 and V8 eras.

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The rebirth of the works team and Schumacher's return (2010-2013)

At the end of 2009, Mercedes acquired reigning champion Brawn GP, re-establishing a full works team. Based in Brackley, the new operation also marked the sensational return to racing of Michael Schumacher, who partnered Nico Rosberg. Although the first few seasons were largely focused on rebuilding, Rosberg delivered the team's first victory of the modern era in China in 2012. In 2013, the arrival of Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda in senior management, together with the signing of Lewis Hamilton, laid the technical foundations for the major regulation changes to come.

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The era of dominance: a record eight titles (2014-2021)

With the introduction of V6 turbo-hybrid Power Units in 2014, Mercedes began one of the most successful periods in Formula 1 history. Its superior integration of chassis and engine helped the team secure eight consecutive Constructors' Championships from 2014 to 2021, an all-time record. During this period, Lewis Hamilton won six Drivers' titles in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, while Nico Rosberg claimed the 2016 World Championship following an intense intra-team battle before announcing his retirement.

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The ground-effect era and technical transition (2022-2024)

The 2022 regulation changes proved difficult for Mercedes, which struggled to master the new generation of ground-effect aerodynamics. The extreme "zero-pod" concept, featuring minimal sidepods, proved difficult to develop and contributed to severe porpoising issues. Despite George Russell's victory in Brazil in 2022, the team slipped down the competitive order. The 2024 season became a crucial transitional year, highlighted by the announcement of Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari for the following season and a fourth-place finish in the Constructors' Championship.

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The 2025 recovery and Antonelli's debut

Mercedes staged a clear technical recovery in 2025, moving decisively away from its previous concepts in favour of a more conventional and effective aerodynamic platform. The team finished second in the Constructors' Championship with 469 points. The season also marked the debut of highly rated Italian talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton and scored 150 points together with several podium finishes. George Russell led the resurgence with two victories, establishing Mercedes as McLaren's closest challenger at the end of the 2022-2025 technical cycle.

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Historical value and collectability

The prestige of the Mercedes name is also reflected in the high-end collector car market. In 2025, a W196 "Streamliner" was sold at auction for a record-breaking sum, setting a new benchmark for the most expensive Grand Prix car ever sold and surpassing previous records for post-war racing cars.

First race:

 Gran Premio di Francia 1954

First victory:

 Gran Premio di Francia 1954

Year	Chassis	Engine	Points
2026	Mercedes GP F1W17	Mercedes M17 E Performance	578
2025	Mercedes GP W16	Mercedes	469
2024	Mercedes GP W15	Mercedes	468
2023	Mercedes GP W14	Mercedes	409
2022	Mercedes GP W13	Mercedes M13 E Performance	515
2021	Mercedes GP W12	Mercedes M12 EQ Power+	613.5
2020	Mercedes GP W11	Mercedes M11 EQ Power+	573
2019	Mercedes GP W10	Mercedes M10 EQ Power+	739
2018	Mercedes GP W09	Mercedes M09 EQ Power+	655
2017	Mercedes GP W08 EQ Power+	Mercedes M08 EQ Power+	668
2016	Mercedes GP F1 W07 Hybrid	Mercedes PU106C Hybrid	765
2015	Mercedes GP W06 Hybrid	Mercedes PU106B Hybrid	703
2014	Mercedes GP W05	Mercedes PU106A Hybrid	701
2013	Mercedes GP F1 W04	Mercedes FO 108Z	360
2012	Mercedes GP F1 W03	Mercedes FO 108Z	142
2011	Mercedes GP MGP W02	Mercedes FO 108Y	165
2010	Mercedes GP MGP W01	Mercedes FO 108X	214

* Season with at least 1 point won (since 2000)

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