Mercedes crushed their Formula 1 rivals after the last major regulation changes in 2014. They would win eight consecutive constructors’ championships before Red Bull toppled them.
The Silver Arrows returned to F1 in 2010 after initially racing in the 1950s. Mercedes were initially an upper midfield outfit, finishing fourth in their first two years before dropping to fifth in 2012.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in 2013, they started to establish themselves as a victory contender. But they always had their hopes pinned on the shift to V6 hybrids.
Hamilton’s move proved to be a masterstroke as he won six titles in seven years before the end of the decade, with only teammate Nico Rosberg interrupting his run. As a team, Mercedes won 111 out of 160 races between the start of 2014 and the end of 2021.
Ferrari and Red Bull only scored occasional victories at first, and while Sebastian Vettel couldn’t sustain his challenge in 2017 and 2018. Ultimately, Ferrari realised Vettel wasn’t as quick as Hamilton, who was at his peak.
The shift to ground-effect aerodynamics in 2022 marked the definitive end of Mercedes’ dominance, with Red Bull and more recently McLaren taking over. But another opportunity awaits in 2026.
Ted Kravitz says Toto Wolff and Mercedes are as optimistic as they were in 2014
The next F1 power units will still be V6 hybrids, but they will be far more reliant on electrical power. F1 bosses expect the batteries to account for 50% of the overall output.
Further changes include the removal of the MGU-H and the move towards sustainable fuels. Mercedes will work with long-time partners Petronas on their biofuel.
Red Bull are setting up their own Powertrains division as they split with Honda, creating real uncertainty at Milton Keynes. Audi are building a ‘cannon of an engine’ but they’re unlikely to compete for titles until the 2030s.
According to Ted Kravitz, Mercedes are feeling extremely bullish about their 2026 power unit. This will, of course, be good news for customers McLaren, Williams and Alpine.
“They are having the same kind of feelings about the 2026 power unit, which is so different, as they had about the 2014 power unit,” Kravitz told the Sky Sports F1 podcast. “The noise, as Toto Wolff says and James Allison says, out of Brixworth – Mercedes’ engine factory, is that they’re feeling the same kind of gains as they had when they swept the board under a new power unit regulation in 2014.”
Why there’s ‘no confidence’ in Mercedes before 2025 Formula 1 season
Wolff surprisingly took the positives from Mercedes finishing fourth in this year’s championship. Under the rules, they will be allowed to spend more time in the wind tunnel next year.
This will be particularly helpful for the development of their 2026 chassis. The introduction of active aerodynamics poses a new challenge for engineers, and Mercedes need to ensure they have a comprehensive package.
Given the level of optimism for the new ruleset, Wolff may be tempted to shift more and more resources to the project if Mercedes start 2025 poorly. The Brackley outfit still appear somewhat perplexed by the ground-effect cars.
Jolyon Palmer has ‘no confidence’ in Mercedes ahead of the new season. He feels they’ve become trapped in a cycle of hope and disappointment in the past few years.
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