Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff admits it’s “tremendous tough” to gauge the place his rivals are of their preparation for Formulation 1’s overhaul in 2026, and mentioned the sensation within the group was “not comparable” to preparations for 2014 – when its interval of F1 dominance started.
The Brackley-based squad has gone by way of two main rule adjustments in its present type. It aced the reset in 2014 successful eight consecutive constructors’ titles, however was misplaced within the weeds when the foundations modified once more in 2022.
Now, it’s on the cusp of a 3rd shake-up because the championship braces for its new period in 2026. Subsequent 12 months, F1 shall be outlined by new guidelines that carry lively aerodynamics to the entrance and rear wings, chassis will get smaller and energy models will depend on a 50:50 cut up in inside combustion energy and electrical vitality.
As the present ruleset got here to an finish on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mercedes boss warned that evaluating preparations for 2026 and 2014 was not attainable.
“Touchdown in 2014, I form of had [a good] feeling already within the winter after we had been the primary ones operating a full automotive dyno,” Wolff defined to media together with Motorsport.com.
“The engine was extra dependable than it appeared with the opposite individuals. And clearly, day one testing, no person did some laps, we did. The identical on day two.
“So, it is not comparable I might say. It is additionally that the grid is simply way more aggressive than it was in earlier years.”
Mercedes was “extra cheerful than as we speak” on the shut of the 2013 season
Photograph by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Pictures
Whereas Wolff admitted that Mercedes was “extra cheerful than as we speak” when the 2013 season resulted in Brazil – because it clinched second place in the F1 standings simply six factors forward of Ferrari – he mentioned his group was “on monitor” with its preparations for the brand new season.
“It is tremendous tough to foretell, as a result of we set ourselves targets that we’re on monitor to fulfill,” Wolff defined. “However whether or not these targets had been set formidable sufficient and whether or not these targets have been set in the fitting place by way of priorities, solely the longer term will present.”
That future is approaching quickly, as F1 will host a closed-doors check in Barcelona from 26 January. And whereas Mercedes hasn’t but introduced when it is going to launch its 2026 challenger, Crimson Bull would be the first producer to interrupt cowl with an occasion on 15 January.
“This isn’t distant, eight weeks or so,” he mentioned after the ultimate race of 2025. “It is really terrible to say. In the present day was the primary day within the morning once I thought, ‘I do not need to go to a race monitor’.”
Now, he says the group will do “every little thing in our energy to return out with a automotive, with an influence unit that’s aggressive sufficient”.
Nevertheless, he wouldn’t be drawn on predicting the group’s place come lights out in Australia, and warned that he was a “glass half-empty particular person” when it got here to predicting his group’s fortunes – particularly after it began the 2022 guidelines cycle on the again foot after seven years of dominance in F1.
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