With six rounds remaining, Formula One has entered its critical final stage. The season has been exciting, and the World Title race remains wide open. For Mercedes, the journey has been mixed. The team had a rough start, reminiscent of their struggles last season. However, their technical team made significant changes to their F1 project, leading to impressive victories. The turnaround began with George Russell’s win at the Austrian Grand Prix and back-to-back triumphs from Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes appeared nearly unbeatable during the stretch between the Austrian GP and the summer break. However, their momentum faded after the break, with the Silver Arrows once again grappling with familiar issues in the W15. Both Russell and Hamilton have been struggling, as the team has lost the edge that made them formidable earlier in the season. The team is creating a master plan to return to domination by 2026. The Mercedes team is on the right path with its Power unit blueprint. The Williams team principal, James Vowel, spoke about the German Marque’s progress in the engine manufacturing fortress.
Mercedes On The Right Path With Its Power Unit Development
Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, James Vowles praised Mercedes for their exceptional work, which was a key reason behind his decision to extend his contract with the team. He highlighted that Mercedes has taken a forward-thinking approach, especially regarding the upcoming changes in power unit regulations for 2026. While the current power units across the grid are largely similar in performance, Vowles believes this will shift in 2026, with noticeable differences emerging between the teams. However, he does not expect the performance gaps to be as wide as those seen in 2014, when introducing new power units created significant disparities across the field.
Vowles explained that although the core principles of the power unit may seem similar to what is already in place, the new regulations will introduce entirely different designs in terms of electrical systems and how teams extract performance from internal combustion engines (ICE). In this regard, Vowles feels that Mercedes has been particularly astute by investing in new technologies earlier than others, putting them in a strong position for the future.
He also acknowledged that while factors like sustainable fuels will play a role in the evolution of F1, they are unlikely to be the biggest differentiators in terms of performance. Instead, the shift in power unit technologies and Mercedes’ early investment in these areas will be key to staying competitive. Vowles believes that while there will be performance differences among teams, they won’t be as drastic as they were in the past when new power unit regulations were introduced.
Lewis Hamilton To Get A Mega Upgrade Boost Ahead Of The Austin GP
Following the Singapore Grand Prix, James Allison, the Mercedes technical chief, addressed the technical challenges Mercedes faced, emphasizing the team’s commitment to resolving them. During the race debrief, Allison highlighted the importance of fixing the tyre overheating problems, particularly on demanding tracks like Marina Bay. He also disclosed that Mercedes’ final upgrade for the W15 would be introduced at the Austin Grand Prix. This “new cloth” is expected to significantly enhance the car’s performance, giving Allison confidence that the team will have a strong weekend at the upcoming race.