Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Mercedes-AMG F1 Team (Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team)

Definition and Historical Standing
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is the works outfit of Germany's Mercedes-Benz, headquartered in Brackley, UK, with its power unit research and development facility located in Brixworth, UK. The team traces its roots back to the Daimler-Benz works team that competed briefly from 1954 to 1955, before Mercedes withdrew entirely from motorsport following the 1955 Le Mans disaster. In 2010, Mercedes made its F1 comeback through the acquisition of Brawn GP. With the dawn of the turbo-hybrid era in 2014, the team swept both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships for eight consecutive seasons (2014 to 2021), forging one of the most dominant dynasties in F1 history.

2026 Season Driver Lineup
The team confirmed in October 2025 that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli would continue as its official driver pairing for the 2026 season. Russell, then aged 27, entered his eighth F1 season and his fifth full campaign with Mercedes in 2026, having previously secured five Grand Prix victories for the team. Antonelli, then aged 19, is an Italian rising talent nurtured through the Mercedes junior programme who made his F1 debut in 2025, becoming the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history at the Canadian Grand Prix.

2026 Season Race Car: W17
The 2026 season marks the most comprehensive technical regulation overhaul in F1 history, for which Mercedes introduced the all-new W17 E PERFORMANCE race car. Smaller, narrower, and lighter than its predecessor, the W17 is fitted with an active aerodynamics system featuring movable front and rear wings. The power unit delivers an electrical-to-combustion power split close to 50:50 and runs on advanced sustainable fuels supplied by PETRONAS. The livery features a dynamic PETRONAS green flowline sweeping across the bodywork, bridging Mercedes' iconic silver with the team's deep black, while the tops of the sidepods are accented with AMG diamond motifs and the engine cover retains the signature three-pointed star. The W17 completed its shakedown at Silverstone in January 2026, with Russell and Antonelli sharing driving duties across approximately 200 km.

2026 Season Competitive Landscape
Mercedes kicked off the 2026 season showcasing formidable pace. Antonelli clinched four consecutive Grand Prix victories in Australia, China, Miami, and Canada, becoming the first driver in F1 history to win the opening four Grands Prix of his career. At the Canadian GP, Russell retired due to a power unit battery pack issue, but still secured a double pole position for both the Sprint and main race, alongside a Sprint race victory. Following the Miami GP, Mercedes commanded a 70-point advantage over Ferrari in the Constructors' standings, with Antonelli leading the Drivers' championship. In September 2026, Team Principal Toto Wolff emphasised that Antonelli's 81-point Drivers' championship lead was "far from over", stating the team refused to succumb to complacency.

Management Structure and Ownership
Toto Wolff continues at the helm as Team Principal and CEO, with 2026 marking his 14th season leading Mercedes. In late 2025, Wolff divested a 15% stake to CrowdStrike founder George Kurtz whilst retaining his roles as Team Principal and CEO, confirming he has no plans to step aside. In March 2026, the team appointed Bradley Lord as Deputy Team Principal to reinforce its executive management structure. On the technical front, James Allison serves as Technical Director, overseeing the overall design of the W17.