A huge overhaul of the Formula 1 technical regulations is coming in 2026 but George Russell believes Mercedes cannot get too carried away amid their growing optimism.
F1 is set to introduce potentially its biggest shake-up ever with new chassis and engine rules on the horizon. Not since the pinnacle of motorsport introduced the V6 turbo-hybrid power unit for 2014 has it changed the engine rules as much, let alone alongside new chassis rules.
Mercedes completely aced the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrids with Lewis Hamilton (6) and Nico Rosberg winning every drivers’ title between 2014 and 2020. But the Silver Arrows dropped the ball after Formula 1 re-introduced ground effect chassis regulations from 2022.
George Russell fears McLaren and Williams spoiling Mercedes’ 2026 party with their own engine
Taking the wrong path for their design philosophy saw Mercedes play catch-up to Red Bull in 2022 and 2023. Only now in 2024 can the Brackley-based outfit regularly battle with their rivals from Milton Keynes and McLaren to take regular Grand Prix wins after a winless 2023.
The new rules coming in 2026 threaten to shake up the grid once again, however, and many expect Mercedes will again develop the best engine with the regulation changes. Yet Russell feels it would be wrong to believe Mercedes will just blow the competition out of the water.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and chassis regulations
Instead, Russell fears that McLaren and even Williams could hinder what progress Mercedes register in 2026 as they both buy the Silver Arrows’ engine. McLaren are also outperforming their power unit provider in 2024 with the Woking crew fighting Red Bull for the teams’ title.
“Mercedes are going to be a great place to be, especially with the engines,” Russell has told RacingNews365. “But there’s more than one team with a Mercedes engine, so we can’t be overly bullish just because we believe we’re going to have a fast engine.
“McLaren are also going to have a fast engine and Williams are going to have a fast engine, as well. At the moment, we’re being beaten by [McLaren].
“I don’t view them as a customer team because it’s all equal. They’re their own team who have the same engine. But, as it stands, they are doing a better job than us.”
McLaren are fighting for their first teams’ title since 1998 with Mercedes engines
McLaren are in contention to win their first constructors’ title since 1998 and possibly their first drivers’ title since 2008 this year. They are only eight points off reigning champions Red Bull with 438 and 446 points respectively. Mercedes sit in fourth place with just 292 points.
What has helped McLaren to usurp Mercedes is that the Woking natives’ car is competitive at every circuit. The Silver Arrows, on the other hand, had a slow start to the season before Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix, while Hamilton won the British and Belgian Grand Prix.
McLaren will hope their work developing the MCL38’s chassis also puts them in a good place to attack the 2026 rules set. Williams are also already allocating resources for F1’s regulation changes after only managing six points in 16 rounds this term, after they scored 28 last year.
Williams may have enjoyed their best season since 2017 last year but they have regressed in 2024. Forbes also valued the Grove squad as the cheapest Formula 1 team in July 2023. It valued Williams at $725m (£552m) compared to Mercedes being in No2 at $3.8bn (£2.9bn).
Yet Russell – who drove for Williams from 2019 to 2021 – feels F1’s 2026 rule changes might bring the Grove squad into contention with Mercedes and McLaren. It was certainly the case in 2014 when Williams took third in the constructors’ championship with Mercedes’ engine.
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