Tag

Mercedes

All articles tagged with #mercedes

Ferrari Fuels 2026 Rule Debate as Bahrain Tests Highlight Aston Martin Struggles
sports4 days ago

Ferrari Fuels 2026 Rule Debate as Bahrain Tests Highlight Aston Martin Struggles

Ferrari topped Bahrain’s final pre-season F1 2026 test as Aston Martin-Honda suffered another setback, fueling a broader debate over the new regulations and F1’s identity in a greener era; Mercedes’ suspected compression-ratio trick has rivals questioning legality while Red Bull Powertrains shows no step back; Adrian Newey’s role at Aston Martin offers a potential lifeline, and Ferrari’s upgrades (exhaust-mounted wing and rotating aero rear wing) underscore its willingness to push the envelope, with new start procedures already testing how cars launch on the grid.

Mercedes edges McLaren by 0.01s as Bahrain F1 pre-season test flags four teams’ issues
formula-17 days ago

Mercedes edges McLaren by 0.01s as Bahrain F1 pre-season test flags four teams’ issues

George Russell set the fastest Bahrain pre-season lap so far at 1:33.459, just 0.010s ahead of Oscar Piastri as Mercedes beat McLaren on Day 4. Charles Leclerc led Ferrari’s early times but the day wasn’t trouble-free for the Scuderia; Lewis Hamilton spent substantial track time in the garage, Aston Martin endured a power-unit fault and a red-flag incident limiting it to 54 laps, and Cadillac battled sensor issues. The midfield remained well off the pace, underscoring the gap to the top teams while the top two squads traded lap times.

Williams shines in Bahrain pre-season test as rivals show form and Aston Martin falters
sports10 days ago

Williams shines in Bahrain pre-season test as rivals show form and Aston Martin falters

Williams led the Bahrain pre-season test with the most laps and solid reliability, while Mercedes and Red Bull posted competitive pace and endurance; Ferrari also posted solid mileage, and Aston Martin struggled with lower mileage and driveability, with the piece noting ongoing questions around the new 2026 engine regulations.

Bahrain Test Week Signals Early F1 Hierarchy, But Clarity Remains Elusive
sports11 days ago

Bahrain Test Week Signals Early F1 Hierarchy, But Clarity Remains Elusive

The first week of Bahrain testing for F1’s 2026 rules showed Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull at the head of the field, but the order is far from settled as teams acclimate to the new regulations and aero concepts. Alpine, Haas and Williams form the tight midfield, with Williams logging a high mileage tally and notable reliability. A second midfield group includes Racing Bulls and Audi, both still developing their cars, while Aston Martin’s pace remains a concern—Lance Stroll said the AMR26 was significantly off the pace and Honda power was overweight— and Cadillac debuted with solid reliability but sat just outside the top 10. Overall, teams urge caution and expect rapid evolution in the second Bahrain test before Melbourne.

2026 F1 cars feel leaner and livelier, say Mercedes drivers
sports21 days ago

2026 F1 cars feel leaner and livelier, say Mercedes drivers

Mercedes’ George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli say the 2026 F1 machines, unveiled after Barcelona testing, remain true Formula 1 cars but are lighter, smaller and more agile thanks to new aerodynamics and a 50/50 hybrid power unit. They describe moments of brutal torque out of corners, energy harvesting that can require lift-and-coast on some straights, and new start procedures, but also a more intuitive driving experience with improved corner feel and potential for easier overtaking compared with current cars. The changes come with learning curves, tyre management considerations, and no MGU-H, but the general consensus is that the cars are challenging yet engaging to drive.

Mercedes may have nailed the new F1 regulations after private Barcelona test, Brundle says
formula-122 days ago

Mercedes may have nailed the new F1 regulations after private Barcelona test, Brundle says

Martin Brundle, a former F1 driver and Sky Sports analyst, said Mercedes’ W17 has “hit the sweet spot” under the new regulations after private testing in Barcelona. He praised Mercedes’ cohesive package and pace, noting the 50:50 internal combustion to electric power and range of regulation changes as the context, but cautioned it’s early and performance could vary with track temperatures and hot vs cold conditions.

Mercedes Sets Early Pace in Barcelona Shakedown for 2026 F1 Era
sports25 days ago

Mercedes Sets Early Pace in Barcelona Shakedown for 2026 F1 Era

Barcelona's closed‑door shakedown for F1's 2026 rules showed Mercedes as the early favorite after a trouble‑free, high‑mileage three days; McLaren and Ferrari posted promising progress while Red Bull's new engine program ran fairly smoothly aside from Isack Hadjar's crash, and Aston Martin and Williams faced notable hurdles as teams head to Bahrain and the next tests, with drivers praising the new energy-management and aero concepts.

Barcelona Test Signals Early Winners in F1's 2026 Rule Shakeup
sports26 days ago

Barcelona Test Signals Early Winners in F1's 2026 Rule Shakeup

Ten F1 teams ran their 2026 cars in Barcelona to gather data on new power units and aero; Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren posted competitive times and drivers were broadly positive about the cars, though there’s still a learning curve. Williams skipped the test, and others like Audi, Cadillac, Haas, and Red Bull worked through teething issues and setup during the three days, using the session mainly for data collection ahead of the season.

Hamilton edges rivals as Mercedes logs the most laps in Barcelona F1 shakedown Day 5
formula-126 days ago

Hamilton edges rivals as Mercedes logs the most laps in Barcelona F1 shakedown Day 5

Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest unofficial lap on the final day of Barcelona’s 2026 F1 shakedown after switching to soft tyres, while Mercedes completed the most mileage across the week. Charles Leclerc topped the morning times, Lando Norris set the best afternoon lap before Hamilton’s late run, and other teams continued testing ahead of Bahrain pre-season tests.

Hamilton tops final day as Mercedes leads Barcelona shakedown mileage
formula-126 days ago

Hamilton tops final day as Mercedes leads Barcelona shakedown mileage

Lewis Hamilton set the final-day unofficial fastest lap (1:16.348) as Mercedes led the Barcelona shakedown with the week’s most mileage (over 500 laps across three days) in a mileage-focused prelude to Bahrain. Charles Leclerc topped the morning times (1:16.653) with Lando Norris (1:16.594) and Oscar Piastri close behind before Hamilton sealed top spot after a late switch to soft tyres. Ferrari engines were second in mileage and Red Bull Ford Powertrains third, with Max Verstappen returning on Friday for 69 laps (best 1:18.285) after Isack Hadjar’s crash earlier in the week. Aston Martin drew attention for its distinctive sidepod/engine-cover design; Williams were absent due to production delays, while Haas, Audi and Cadillac also ran. No red flags interrupted the day as teams prepare for Bahrain on 11–13 February.

Mercedes Edge Day 4 in Barcelona as Russell Leads F1 Pre-Season
motorsport27 days ago

Mercedes Edge Day 4 in Barcelona as Russell Leads F1 Pre-Season

Mercedes dominated Day 4 of the 2026 Barcelona pre-season test, with George Russell fastest in 1:16.445 after taking the W17 for a long run (77 laps). Teammate Kimi Antonelli was 1:17.081 in the morning, while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton led the 1:18s group for Ferrari as they logged about 174 laps combined. Oscar Piastri’s McLaren ran 48 laps before a fuel-system issue cut afternoon running, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll completed four exploratory laps. Across three days Mercedes have racked up 499 laps.

Mercedes lead Barcelona F1 pre-season Day 4 as Aston Martin sits out
formula-127 days ago

Mercedes lead Barcelona F1 pre-season Day 4 as Aston Martin sits out

Day 4 of the Barcelona pre-season test saw Mercedes top the unofficial times with a 1m16.4s lap (George Russell), while Aston Martin’s AMR26 did not appear on track. Ferrari and Mercedes logged heavy mileage, Cadillac and Audi joined the field, and McLaren’s Piastri cited a fuel-system issue that cut running short; with cold conditions, the times are not a reliable indicator of pace.