Mercedes concluded the ground-effect era by securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship, mirroring their 2023 result, this time enriched by George Russell’s victories in Canada and Singapore. Reflecting on the performance of the latest generation of cars, Team Principal Toto Wolff said, “When we look back in ten or twenty years, the statistics will show that the last 15 seasons were really strong. Eight consecutive championships and then another four with very respectable positions. We have nothing to complain about.”
Wolff: “In winter, the engine barely managed 100 km”
It’s hard to disagree, even though Toto Wolff emphasized that “in recent years, there has always been at least one team working better than us.” First Red Bull, then McLaren, “and so we often remained behind in competitiveness, which kept us from fighting for the championship.” Still, there is satisfaction in finishing 2025 as the second-best team despite clear difficulties during winter preparations: “I remember that toward the last races of the previous season, we were finalizing the engine for this championship. On the dyno, it barely reached a hundred kilometers. Then, at testing, everything ran smoothly… I was sitting at the airport, beer in hand, thinking, ‘I have no idea how we managed to be ready in time.’”
McLaren outperforming us? Supplying their engine only benefits us
Regarding the power units built by Mercedes, McLaren — the standout team of 2025 — exploited the engine’s performance, sometimes outperforming Mercedes itself. Toto Wolff addressed this, explaining, “Past experience has shown us that providing our power unit to other teams only gives us more data and mileage. Simply put, having more cars on track provides greater benefits.”
Antonelli? “My responsibility to ensure he did well”
Another highlight of the 2025 season was the arrival of rookie Kimi Antonelli. Wolff explained that “signing such a young driver reflects the philosophy of this team. We knew that taking him on would mean a year of learning, both for us and for him, but several teams in the past have shown that this approach can be successful. Our goal was to take a step forward, to push new limits. This applies not only to car development but also to building a structure that will be as solid as possible in the future.”
Regarding Kimi Antonelli, Toto Wolff added, “I personally followed his development. I felt responsible; I wanted to make sure he got the best out of our car despite his very young age.”
Looking ahead to 2026
Now all eyes turn to 2026. “There will be many differences compared to today, but I’m happy about the change. I think the engineers are even more excited; they will have development opportunities we’ve never seen before, especially with fuel usage innovations. That said, I must be honest, it will be a true leap into the unknown for everyone.”
On managing the creation of a completely new car, Toto Wolff explained, “My role is to allow my team to take risks — at the same time, I am aware that Formula 1, with these regulations, is presenting challenges that, on paper, seem impossible to overcome. But we will do it.”
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