Williams on Mercedes' 2026 engine: 'They've done an exceptional job'
F1 News
Five different engine suppliers will operate in Formula 1 from 2026. Red Bull/Ford Powertrains, Ferrari, Honda, Audi and Mercedes. The latter nailed the 2014 turbo-hybrid rule change, which helped 'The Silver Arrows' dominate F1 for a long period. Early signs suggest that their 2026 powertrain is promising. This is what Williams team boss James Vowles is hoping for, as his team will be using the Mercedes engine.
In 2026, Formula 1 cars will not only change aerodynamically. A major regulation switch-up means new powertrains (which are 50% combustion and 50% electric) will be used. The differences in performance are miniscule in current F1, but this will be different at the start of 2026. In any case, Mercedes is in good shape, Vowles said.
Customer team Williams extended its contract with the German engine supplier in January. “I think Mercedes have done an exceptional job which is why I was very happy to re-sign back up for an extension to it,” Vowles stated. “And I think you’re going to see differences in power units that don’t exist. Today, pretty much all power units are much of a muchness.
"I think that will all change in 2026, and you will see a difference between the power units. I don’t think it will be the levels you saw in 2014 where there was such a wide spread between the field,” Vowles explained, as Mercedes dominated by some margin when the engines changed in 2014. At the time, Williams finished third in the World Constructors Championship partly due to their Mercedes engine.
Vowles: New engines will be a 'complete redesign'
At the Grove-based racing stable, there are once again high hopes for the Mercedes engine. “It’s true that if you’ve simplified it, it’s more of what we’re already doing but it’s a completely re-design of what you’re doing in an electrical world and how you’re extracting the most performance from your ICE is different.”
Mercedes seems to have its act together, and Williams is hoping its power unit will be a success. There's a lot to look forward to at the British team, as Carlos Sainz will join the nine-time constructors champions in 2025.
This article was written in collaboration with Corwin Kunst
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