During the second block of pre-season testing in Bahrain, a key technical detail emerged that sheds light on the performance picture seen at Sakhir: only the Mercedes factory team used the latest evolution of the 2026 power unit, while customer teams ran with an older configuration. The only exception that remains uncertain is McLaren, which may have had access to a more powerful spec as well.
This detail is significant at a time when the new technical regulations require completely revised architectures, especially on the hybrid front, with the abolition of the MGU-H and a new balance between the internal combustion engine and the electric components. In this context, the management of engine specifications carries substantial strategic weight, both in terms of reliability and chassis–power unit integration. Being both engine supplier and factory team provides a potential advantage, one that Brackley and Brixworth are keen to exploit, especially after seeing Woking win three titles in two years using the Mercedes engines.
Different specs only during testing
According to paddock reports and coverage from the BBC, during the second Bahrain test session, Mercedes ran an upgraded version of its power unit, while customer teams—including Alpine—used the previous specification.
However, this staggered approach will not continue beyond testing. Starting from the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, all HPPT-powered teams will have access to the same hardware and software configuration. The regulations mandate complete equivalence between factory and customer teams for the entire season: there will be no “A” and “B” versions, nor updates reserved exclusively for the factory squad.
This is consistent with statements from Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive consultant, who confirmed in an interview with Sky Sport F1 that the French team would receive exactly the same engine as the parent manufacturer from the first race onward. In light of what was observed in Bahrain, this appears to confirm a staggered rollout of specifications limited solely to the pre-season development phase.
The Antonelli incident: a technical clue?
On the Friday morning of the second week of testing, Mercedes encountered a technical issue with the car assigned to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The problem, not officially detailed, may have been related to the introduction of the updated specification—potentially more aggressive in terms of horsepower—for the power unit.
During this phase, when every component is still in its learning curve—both thermodynamically and electrically—it is natural that hardware evolutions (or even software upgrades) can create unexpected issues. The absence of the MGU-H has forced a radical revision of energy management, recovery, and deployment strategies, directly impacting temperatures, vibrations, and cooling system interactions, as well as start performance, as previously analyzed in our detailed focus.
If Friday’s issue was indeed linked to the new specification, it would represent a nearly unavoidable step in a validation process, where pre-season tests serve as the toughest proving ground. It is always preferable to address potential weaknesses in February rather than encounter them under Parc Fermé conditions during the championship.
Conservative program or strategic detuning?
Aside from this technical episode, Mercedes never seemed focused on outright qualifying pace. The Bahrain program closely resembled the approach adopted during the turbo-hybrid era: systematic long runs, predominantly medium-hard tires, likely high fuel loads, and no obsessive search for fast laps on low fuel with aggressive engine maps. To give perspective, while Charles Leclerc was pushing for lap times in the final hour of the session, George Russell was completing a 16-lap stint on hard tires.
This methodical approach prioritized data collection over clock-watching. Mercedes worked on long sequences, race simulations, and setup comparisons, leaving the so-called “glory runs” secondary. This strategy aligns with a team confident in a solid technical base and focused on understanding aerodynamic correlations and the power unit’s behavior under realistic conditions.
Inside Mercedes, there is also the belief that the W17’s true potential has not yet been fully revealed. More aggressive engine maps and qualifying configurations may have been deliberately held back. Only in Melbourne, when the timing equipment starts assigning points and Parc Fermé rules impose definitive choices, will the car’s real level be measurable.
Regulatory fairness and political management
The obligation to provide the same specification to both factory and customer teams is a core part of the regulatory framework. The FIA aims to eliminate any interpretative ambiguities that in the past fueled suspicion of performance differences between factory and satellite teams.
From the first race weekend, Alpine, Williams, and McLaren will have identical power unit architectures, updates, and maps as allowed by regulations. This means any performance gaps will depend solely on chassis integration, aerodynamic efficiency, and trackside execution.
Using the updated specification only on the factory car during pre-season testing can be seen as standard development practice: the manufacturer accelerates internal validation before extending the update to customer teams. Once the season begins, technical parity becomes a binding constraint.
Melbourne as the first real benchmark
Albert Park will provide the first reliable benchmark. In Bahrain, environmental conditions, a rear-limited track layout, and heterogeneous test programs make direct comparisons complex. In Melbourne, with more known fuel loads and configurations closer to race specifications, clearer hierarchies will emerge.
If Mercedes did introduce an upgraded engine during testing, it could arrive in Australia with a deeper understanding of the package than its customers, even while sharing the same specification. The advantage will not lie in hardware, but in mileage and quality of data collected.
It remains to be seen whether the cautious approach seen in Bahrain masks significant potential, or whether rivals have already closed part of the gap that in the past separated the Silver Arrows from the rest of the grid. The tests showed a focused, methodical team, almost resistant to the usual showmanship of F1. As often happens, winter timing only tells part of the story. The rest will be revealed when it matters, and in Melbourne, with specifications finally aligned between factory and customer teams, every excuse disappears: it will be time to measure the true value of the new Mercedes era.
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