Mercedes driver George Russell.
George Russell added to the optimism at Mercedes over their 2026 power unit, confirming that they are “very confident” for that new era.
Since 2014, the existing power unit regulations in Formula 1 have paved the way for Mercedes’ remarkable ascendancy, resulting in eight consecutive Constructors’ titles from 2014 to 2021. Will they be well-prepared to conquer the forthcoming major transformation?
George Russell confirms Mercedes ‘very confident’ for F1 2026
By the time the 2026 campaign arrives, both the Formula 1 chassis regulations and power units will undergo significant changes. The power units will shift towards a higher dependence on electrical power and adopt fully sustainable biofuels for the internal combustion engine.
Already Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison have spoken very positively about their F1 2026 efforts, with Russell now endorsing that confidence when asked for his response.
Russell, while addressing the media, including PlanetF1.com, expressed that although 2026 may seem distant in ordinary circumstances, in the realm of Formula 1, it will arrive in no time. The team is imbued with great confidence for this upcoming era.
In my opinion, the team’s past experiences, including their success in 2014 with the new powertrain, their time in Formula E, and the efforts put into developing the Hypercar, have all played a significant role.
“We are fortunate to have a multitude of highly experienced individuals within HPP [High Performance Powertrains] who possess extensive knowledge in this upcoming technology. This puts us in an excellent position to develop an exceptional engine.”
“The work being done by Petronas on the fuel is also impressive, which gives us a strong sense of confidence for that era in terms of the engine.”
Mercedes F1 driver line-up still to take shape
F1 2026 driver line-up: Lewis Hamilton and eight other drivers already confirmed for 2026
F1 2026: Confirmed teams and power unit suppliers for F1’s huge regulation changes
According to Wolff, Mercedes is well-positioned for F1 2026, but he also wants to emphasize that success is not assured under these upcoming regulations.
He expressed confidence in our strong position for 2026, highlighting our ambitious goals for the power unit, batteries, and fuel.
“Who knows if we’ll be a good value proposition, but if we can manufacture a decent chassis, we have a chance.”
I have a certain level of confidence in our abilities and resources in HPP. We were successful in 2014, but there is no guarantee that we will achieve the same level of success in 2026.
However, we are exerting our utmost effort and have established targets that we deem sufficiently high and ambitious to develop a highly competitive power unit.
The year 2014 was undeniably a venture into unfamiliar territory due to significant regulatory changes. However, the current scenario bears some resemblance to that experience.
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