George Russell’s stellar drive to his sixth podium finish of 2018 at the Hungarian Grand Prix and overtaking Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to claim first in class has become one of the greatest highlights for Mercedes this season. Russell’s success at Hungary is further proof of his exceptional form from earlier on this season when he notched four podiums and frequently finished inside the top five positions.
Mercedes had an encouraging start, yet struggles set in as updates to their W16 were ineffective in improving results. Russell’s victory at Canadian track now appears mainly attributable to it, marking an exceptional achievement amidst times of difficulty for Mercedes and their W16 program.
Kimi Antonelli’s struggles further depict Mercedes’ challenges, with the Italian driver managing to score just a single point over four races, highlighting the team’s difficulties in recent times.
Mercedes Sees Progress with W16
Over the past four seasons, Formula 1 teams have grappled with the challenge of developing upgrades that genuinely enhance performance. The complexity of the 2022 ground-effect regulations has necessitated cautious interpretation of wind tunnel data and diligent simulator work to avoid counterproductive updates. Mercedes, having embarked on the 2022 season with a flawed concept, had to reassess their approach significantly.
Since James Allison resumed his role as Technical Director in 2023, Mercedes has adopted a more consistent development trajectory. Yet, recent months have seen the team revert to a previous version of their rear suspension after experiments did not yield the hoped-for gains, a move that was particularly welcomed at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
With a reflective yet optimistic outlook, Toto Wolff explains how the team is shifting its focus towards ending the current regulation era on a high note and laying a solid groundwork for 2026. Despite a pause in major car developments for the remainder of the year, the improvements made in Hungary are viewed as a positive step forward for the team.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As Mercedes gears up for the 2026 regulations, there is palpable anticipation surrounding their potential competitiveness, especially with the introduction of a new engine. While Red Bull faces its challenges with transitioning to their own engine program, Mercedes emerges as a strong contender.
However, in spite of their optimism for 2026, the team remains cautious as changes will affect every aspect of car design and performance. If successful engines such as those from Renault can deliver competitive advantages to customer teams such as McLaren, Williams and Alpine while not discounting rivalries from manufacturers like Honda or Ferrari as potential competition sources.
Mercedes must address one of their primary priorities as soon as possible: finalizing their driver lineup. Decisions about George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s contracts extension await approval; Toto Wolff has shown his involvement in these negotiations as evidence that creating a solid team foundation before entering another competitive season is essential to their success.