2026 Challenger Revealed
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Formula One racing prepares for its next era as Mercedes sparks inspiration and excitement for the upcoming season.
How can you not see this incredible machine as a beautifully engineered racing juggernaut of craftsmanship and a meticulously designed piece of art?
The W17, the team’s new challenger, is designed for F1’s 2026 technical revolution with a lighter, shorter, and narrower chassis, active aerodynamics, and a next-generation hybrid Power Unit fueled by advanced sustainable fuel from PETRONAS. “As F1 prepares for its next chapter, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team marks a decisive moment for the team and for the sport,” said Toto Wolff, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team CEO and Team Principal.
2026 Challenger Revealed
Credit Mercedes-Benz Group AG
2026 Challenger Revealed
Credit Mercedes-Benz Group AG
At the heart of the W17 is Mercedes‑AMG High Performance Powertrain’s (HPP) all‑new hybrid Power Unit, created for the 2026 rules: In technical terms. A near 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical power output. Removal of the MGU‑H and a step‑change in MGU‑K capability from 120 kW to 350 kW, with new energy recovery and deployment strategies. Advanced sustainable fuel from PETRONAS, engineered as a drop‑in solution to deliver performance with reduced lifecycle carbon impact, aligned to F1’s sustainability pathway.
2026 Challenger Revealed
Credit Mercedes-Benz Group AG
2026 Challenger Revealed
Credit Mercedes-Benz Group AG
The Power Unit has been tightly integrated with the W17’s cooling architecture and aerodynamics to ensure thermal robustness and energy efficiency in every phase of the lap—from high‑recovery braking zones to long full‑throttle running. The integrated Brackley–Brixworth approach has been a central theme of the team’s journey towards this next generation of F1.
2026 Challenger Revealed
Credit Mercedes-Benz Group AG
Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of Mercedes-AMG HPP, said: “The 2026 Formula One season marks an entirely new chapter— for the sport in general and particularly for those at the coalface of powertrain development. As Managing Director of Mercedes‑AMG High Performance Powertrains, I’ve never seen a challenge like this: new Power Unit architecture, sustainable fuels, greater hybrid emphasis—all converging at once together with a whole new car. It’s not merely an evolution; it’s a revolution.”
2026 Challenger Revealed
Credit Mercedes-Benz Group AG
Datuk Sazali, Executive Vice President and CEO Downstream, said: “Fuel is fundamental to performance in F1 as it powers every lap and every acceleration on track. For PETRONAS, the 2026 regulations have reinforced the need to formulate fuels differently, with performance, efficiency and sustainability designed together. Our bespoke advanced sustainable fuels are the result of years of formulation work and continuous engine testing, ensuring they meet the extreme demands of racing.”
A New Era Begins
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“The 2026 season represents a significant moment in the sport’s history. For those of us who live and breathe engineering, it’s both exhilarating and daunting in equal measure,” says the team’s Technical Director, James Allison. “This isn’t just a tweak to the regulations – it’s a wholesale transformation of almost every aspect of the car. Power Unit, chassis, aerodynamics, tyres: all are being changed at once.”
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli remain the team’s two race drivers after a successful first year in 2025. George earned two wins and finished fourth in the Drivers’ World Championship, while Kimi showed potential as a rookie, earning multiple podiums and his first Sprint pole in Miami. Fred Vesti, another graduate of the team’s junior program, steps up as Third Driver, handling simulator work, race attendance, and an active IMSA schedule.
