George Russell is now the latest Mercedes driver to talk up its 2026 engine efforts.
Mercedes have struggled to build a race-winning car for a few years now but one thing they have been good at for a long time is building power units.
Luckily for them, a new set of regulations is coming into force in 2026 which provides an opportunity to get a jump on their rivals.
And that is why they haven’t yet completely given up on their attempts to convince Max Verstappen to quit Red Bull.
The Dutchman is still winning with the Formula 1 champions and won’t be tempted to leave unless he feels he can be more competitive elsewhere – but he’s said to be worried about how good Red Bull’s first attempt at building an engine will be.
At Imola last month, Mercedes technical director James Allison was only too happy to talk about how well his own team’s efforts are going. And now driver Russell has asserted that the Silver Arrows are “in a really great place” on that front.
He said: “Ordinarily, 2026 seems like a long time away but in the world of Formula 1 it’s going to be here tomorrow and the team are feeling really confident for this era. You know the experience the team have had, the success in 2014 with the new powertrain, and then obviously the time in Formula E, the work that was done with the Hypercar.
“There are a lot of individuals within HPP who have got so much experience with this future technology. So I think that leaves us in a really great place to have a great engine. And the work Petronas are doing on the fuel as well is looking really strong. So on the engine side, I think we’re feeling very confident for that era.”
Russell looks likely to be joined by teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli next year with Lewis Hamilton heading to Ferrari. But the Briton insists he is up for the challenge of going up against Verstappen if Mercedes can convince the Dutchman to join.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Russell said: “I wouldn’t shy away from jumping alongside Max, nor would I shy away from him jumping in with us. I had the biggest challenge of joining Mercedes against the greatest driver of all time statistically, in qualifying and in the race, and I performed against him, and that’s all I can do.
“Max can take a year off for 2026 and see which the best team is. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did that. Remember, 2026 is a lottery. So, you truly don’t know what will transpire.
“I am a loyal guy and Mercedes have given me the opportunity, but I want to be a world champion. That’s not us at the moment. But a year ago McLaren were the slowest team and now they are the quickest.”
