Mercedes-AMG F1 has now revealed its 2026 campaign car. At first glance, it doesn’t appear dramatically different from last year’s machine. The most noticeable change is the front wing—and not much else. However, the 2026 season marks the introduction of sweeping new Formula 1 regulations, including 50 per cent electrification, active aerodynamics, and fully sustainable fuels.
The cars are slightly smaller and therefore lighter than last year’s, and the ground-effect era is over. In many ways, 2026 represents a full reboot for Formula 1. Mercedes is widely rumoured to have a head start under the new engine regulations, having identified and exploited a loophole that reportedly gives it a power advantage over rival teams.
Red Bull has also exploited the same loophole. The details relate to compression ratios—highly complex territory—but the bottom line is that Mercedes appears to have hit the ground running on all six cylinders, and then some. That said, only time will tell whether laboratory gains translate into real-world performance on track.
Mercedes struggled during the ground-effect era to produce a consistently competitive car, despite possessing some of the most advanced simulation tools and development processes in the sport. Now, however, its engine advantage is being challenged by rival teams who either missed or interpreted differently the fine print of the new regulations.
Those rivals cannot easily exploit the same loophole, as doing so would require developing an entirely new engine architecture from scratch. As a result, their remaining options may be to push for regulatory intervention—either having the Mercedes engine banned outright or its performance restricted through electronic engine mapping.
Nevertheless, Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff shared his thoughts on the season ahead at the launch of the W17 in Brackley, Northampton:
“Formula 1 will undergo significant change in 2026 and we are prepared for that transition. The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance.”
“Our work on the new car, and the long-term development of the power unit and advanced sustainable fuels with Petronas, reflects that approach.”
“The W17 represents the collective, sustained effort of our teams in Brixworth and Brackley. We will continue to push hard in the months ahead.”
The clock is ticking down to the first race of the season, which will be held in Melbourne, Australia, on March 8. Before that comes the pre-season livery launch, followed by pre-season testing, scheduled to take place over six days beginning in February.
