After four difficult seasons under the ground effect regulations, Mercedes has perfectly managed the recent technical upheaval: the result of a long-prepared strategy.
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After 11 Grands Prix, Mercedes leads both championships with eight wins and ten pole positions.
The team holds a 72-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship, while Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings with 219 points, 50 more than Lewis Hamilton. George Russell is in third place with 160 points.
A striking contrast with the 2022-2025 period. Mercedes had only won seven Grands Prix in 92 races under the old regulations, including a 2023 season without a single victory.
Mercedes had been preparing its comeback for a long time
For Allison, the radical change in regulations represented a unique opportunity to start fresh. Mercedes had therefore decided very early to give special importance to the 2026 project.
“One of the messages we repeated internally for several years is that regulatory changes of this magnitude can determine success for several seasons,” explains the technical director.
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Mercedes was aware that a team gaining an immediate advantage could then maintain it through development: “The team that succeeds from the start can potentially build a long-term advantage. So we have approached 2026 with that in mind for a long time.”
This preparation immediately paid off. From the season opener in Melbourne, Russell and Antonelli secured a one-two finish. The young Italian then won five consecutive races, from China to Monaco.
No time to savor
Allison acknowledges that discovering an immediately competitive W17 in Australia was a huge satisfaction after several difficult years: “Arriving in Melbourne with a truly competitive car was extremely satisfying.”
However, Mercedes did not want to consider this initial success as an endpoint: “Formula 1 doesn’t really allow you to stop and enjoy it. You immediately move on to the next race, the next challenge, and the next opportunity.”
Despite its comfortable lead, Mercedes continues to approach each weekend with the same philosophy: to make the most of the work done beforehand and continue development to prevent rivals from closing the gap.
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