It may sound incredible, but twelve full seasons have passed since 2014, the year in which Formula 1 switched to hybrid power units. Now that this complex and demanding regulatory era is coming to an end—an era defined by the most technologically advanced engines in F1 history—it is time to look back and acknowledge the manufacturers that truly reigned over it.
Mercedes, the undisputed queen
The true and unquestioned ruler of this period has undoubtedly been Mercedes. Thanks to the extraordinary work carried out in Brixworth, the German manufacturer established complete dominance from the very first laps of the hybrid era. The team went on to collect an astonishing eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ Championships—six for Lewis Hamilton and one for Nico Rosberg.
Those early years were almost surreal. The competition appeared to be light-years behind. Anyone who remembers the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons knows exactly what this refers to. But Mercedes’ winning streak did not stop there: the German power unit also carried McLaren to victory in 2024 and 2025, following Honda’s major performance recovery.
In 2017, Ferrari began to re-emerge. With Sebastian Vettel joining the team, followed by Mattia Binotto’s arrival as team principal, the Scuderia seemed capable of becoming a real title contender. Hopes remained alive until the end of 2019, when the Italian team was forced into an agreement with the FIA after being found at fault over certain power unit parameters. At the time, it was suspected that Ferrari had used the fuel flow meter in a non-compliant way—storing excess fuel at low revs and releasing it during acceleration. What followed was the team’s collapse in 2020, and only in the years after did Ferrari manage to start climbing back.
The Honda golden years
With Ferrari out of the picture, Mercedes could have had even more space to dominate. Instead, an unexpected challenger emerged: Honda. Great expectations surrounded Honda’s return in 2015, a year later than all other manufacturers. But that delay instantly became a handicap.
The partnership with McLaren turned into a nightmare. From 2015 to 2017, the two spent three seasons stuck at the back of the grid. McLaren switched to Renault engines in 2018 and announced that it would return to Mercedes engines from 2021—just as in the years before 2014.
The extraordinary part came next. After ending its project with McLaren and joining forces with Red Bull, Honda began a remarkable comeback. From having the weakest engine on the grid, the Japanese manufacturer worked its way up until Max Verstappen was able to win the 2021 Drivers’ Championship. Red Bull then went on to claim both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Mercedes returns to the top thanks to McLaren
In 2024, Max Verstappen triumphed once again, while the Constructors’ Championship went to McLaren, which returned to success using Mercedes power. McLaren repeated the achievement in 2025 and now awaits the chance to fight for a Drivers’ title with one of its two stars, Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.
In summary, over these twelve seasons, only two engine manufacturers truly reigned: Mercedes and Honda. It is remarkable to note that alongside the overwhelmingly dominant Mercedes, the only other engine builder to reach the top was Honda—the same manufacturer that had been the farthest behind in 2015. Equally surprising is the rise of McLaren, a team that had completely lost its direction at the start of the hybrid era. This evolution should make many rival teams reflect on the value of internal development and long-term planning.
Renault, meanwhile, earns the unfortunate title of the weakest engine supplier of the decade. Neither its own works team nor its customers were ever able to fight for a championship. This is likely why Renault has now stepped aside. Starting in 2026, Alpine will use engines built by Mercedes.
Twelve years ruled by Mercedes and Honda, and now a new chapter
The hybrid era has been shaped from start to finish by Mercedes and Honda. But a brand-new challenge is coming. The next cycle will feature more engine manufacturers and a more streamlined set of regulations. At first, we could see performance gaps similar to 2014, but over time, with six power unit manufacturers involved—Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, Audi, Ford-Red Bull Powertrains and Cadillac from 2027—the competitive landscape could evolve very differently.
That is what many fans hope for, and what the sport itself needs.
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