F1 | Mercedes gets a head start: another key phase completed for 2026
The 2026 Formula 1 season is fast approaching. In just a few weeks, drivers will take to the track for the first official pre-season test sessions, held behind closed doors in Barcelona. Teams are finalizing the last details on their cars, and Mercedes has been busy refining the 2026 car, the W17. Here’s the latest update on their progress.
Yesterday, Mercedes shared a video on its social media channels and YouTube showing some of the work carried out at the Brackley headquarters by young Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. What was the work about? Kimi Antonelli participated in a seat fitting test on a chassis model of the W17. With the new technical regulations, cars will undergo several changes, some more noticeable than others. For example, the new generation of cars will be shorter than the previous ground-effect models. One detail that caught Antonelli’s attention was the driver position. With the new cars, drivers will sit slightly higher than before, an adjustment that is subtle but significant for ergonomics and driving comfort.
Following Antonelli, it was George Russell’s turn. Mercedes also confirmed on social media that the British driver was at the Brackley headquarters to continue preparations for the 2026 season. In several photos, George Russell is seen testing what will be the W17’s seat. Unlike Kimi Antonelli, however, George Russell is shown wearing a plain black helmet without any sponsors, rather than his familiar race helmet.
This early phase highlights Mercedes’ focus on driver comfort and ergonomics as the team works to maximize performance under the new 2026 regulations. By starting these tests ahead of the official sessions, Mercedes aims to enter Barcelona fully prepared for both technical evaluations and the first on-track mileage of the W17.
As the 2026 regulations bring shorter cars and a revised seating position, Mercedes is leaving nothing to chance by getting both Russell and Antonelli integrated into the W17 project early. These seat fits mark a tangible transition from digital simulations to physical hardware, signaling that the build phase is reaching its final, critical stages. With testing in Barcelona just around the corner, the work done now in the Brackley simulator and workshop will set the foundation for Mercedes’ hopes of leading the sport’s newest technical revolution.
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