Antonelli leads Russell in Mercedes 1-2 on day three
Mercedes reaffirmed belief that it is the team to beat in Formula 1 this year after Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped a Silver Arrows 1-2 on the final day of this week’s 2026 Bahrain pre-season test. The 19-year-old set a 1m33.669s, which was 0.249s quicker than team-mate George Russell, who topped the morning session before Antonelli […]
Mercedes «screwed» if FIA and F1 side with rivals in engine row
The Mercedes engine is at the centre of attention at the start of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain. Although Toto Wolff emphasised that Red Bull is the benchmark in his view, that does not change the fact that rivals are working on plans to get the compression ratio checks adjusted before the start of the […]
Younger drivers should benefit from F1 regulation change
Andrea Kimi Antonelli is confident that Formula 1’s more inexperienced drivers will benefit from the 2026 regulation overhaul due to the need to adapt. F1 promises to look totally different this year with changes to both the chassis, lighter by 32kg plus less downforce, and engine, more reliant on electric power, after four years of […]
Mercedes rivals push for intervention over F1 engine loophole
Under the new Formula 1 power unit regulations, discussion about the compression ratio flared up even before a single wheel had turned with the 2026 machinery. The ratio between cylinder volume with the piston at the bottom of its stroke and at the top was 18:1 under the previous regulations, but has been reduced to […]
Russell eager for F1 2026 title battle against Verstappen
George Russell is eager to contest a Formula 1 title battle against Max Verstappen in 2026 with the Mercedes driver heading into the campaign as the world championship favourite. F1 will introduce a new set of regulations this year meaning the car is completely new and with such wholesale changes, the pecking order is currently […]
Wolff tells Mercedes’ F1 rivals to «get your s*** together» over engine complaints
Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff has called on rival power unit manufacturers to «just get your s*** together» after they voiced complaints to the FIA on Mercedes’ interpretation of the regulations. The 2026 power unit regulations prescribe an engine compression ratio of 16:1, down from 18:1 last year. That compression ratio has always […]
Mercedes impresses with first race sim at F1’s Barcelona shakedown
Mercedes has delivered a strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season as Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed a full race simulation on day two. The Mercedes W17 ran reliably on both Monday and Wednesday, with George Russell having completed 92 laps by lunchtime yesterday before handing over the car to Antonelli. The youngster then reeled […]
Audi joins demands for FIA to act on 2026 F1 compression ratio furore
There are several unfortunate echoes from grand prix history in the controversy surrounding compression ratios in the new generation of hybrid engines. Formula 1 teams are naturally exhibiting a level of paranoia about the prospect of having competitive advantage – however slight – effectively locked in for the whole season. For 2026, the compression ratio […]
Mercedes becomes sole F1 safety car supplier as Aston Martin pulls out
Mercedes will be the sole supplier of the Formula 1 safety car and medical car in 2026 as Aston Martin decided against renewing its deal. Aston Martin and Mercedes had been sharing duties to supply course cars to F1 since 2021, with Mercedes providing an AMG GT Black Series and Aston Martin supplying the Vantage […]