Mercedes pushes ahead, customers struggle. Fuel among the main reasons for the gap
Earlier today, we shared an article outlining what we believe will be the dominant factor influencing power unit development throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season. While manufacturers claim they can extract up to 3000 MJ/h of effective power from the fuel—representing the maximum energy flow—there may still be significant differences when it comes to the usable power that ultimately reaches the drivetrain and is available to the drivers on track.
In fact, there is a clear distinction between effective power and usable power. As discussed earlier, this depends heavily on the efficiency of the internal combustion engine (ICE). The FIA has set a maximum efficiency limit of 48%, which would correspond to approximately 400 kW of thermal power.
Reaching this figure depends not only on the work carried out by manufacturers, but also on other factors. Each team—including customer teams such as Williams, McLaren, and Alpine, all running Mercedes power units—can improve energy management on the ERS side through software development. However, on the thermal side, they may suffer from performance differences linked to ICE efficiency.
The influence of fuel partners on the competitive order
The key factor lies in the fuel being used. Engine efficiency is strongly influenced by the type of fuel, and Mercedes is currently the only manufacturer showing differences between its own fuel partner and those of its customer teams. Ferrari and Red Bull Powertrains, for example, use the same fuel specifications across both their works teams and all customer teams within their supply scope.
Below is a list of fuel partners across the grid:
Ferrari → Shell
Mercedes → Petronas
Red Bull / RB Powertrains → ExxonMobil (Esso)
McLaren/Mercedes → Motul
Aston Martin/Honda → Aramco
Alpine/Mercedes → Eni
Audi → BP (British Petroleum – Castrol)
Haas/Ferrari → Shell
Williams/Mercedes → Petronas (Gulf Oil has joined Williams as a sponsor only)
Racing Bulls/Red Bull Powertrains → ExxonMobil
Cadillac/Ferrari → Shell
One of the main reasons behind the gap affecting Mercedes customer teams could therefore be the use of different fuels. The only customer using Petronas fuel, like the Mercedes works team, is Williams. In this case, however, the gap to the front appears to be caused by other factors, including delays in the project and a significantly overweight car compared to its rivals. The Grove-based team is believed to have designed a car that is approximately 22 kilograms above the FIA-imposed minimum weight limit.
The 2026 regulations have turned fuel into a primary performance differentiator. While the Mercedes works team benefits from a highly integrated Petronas synergy, partners like McLaren (Motul) and Alpine (Eni) must find their own path to that 48% efficiency ceiling. Based on the content of these technical insights, the “useful power” gap may remain a deciding factor in the midfield battle until these teams can harmonize their fuel chemistry with the Brackley-built ICE.
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