George Russell expresses full confidence in Mercedes’ power unit heading into the new engine regulations of 2026. According to the British driver, the Silver Arrows’ engine has never been a weak point in recent years – and he believes this will not change in the future. However, the driver doubts whether Mercedes will be the favourite for the titles next year – after all, customer team McLaren will be using the same engine.
The 2026 season is fast approaching, and Mercedes is therefore heavily involved in the development of the power unit for the new season. “I have a lot of confidence in the engine,” Russell tells Motorsport Week. “Looking back over the past ten years, I can’t remember a time when Mercedes, with perhaps the exception of 2019, didn’t have the best engine in Formula 1. Even before the regulation changes, in the V8 era, I think the Mercedes engine was probably also the most competitive in the field. So, I have absolute confidence in the organisation in Brixworth.”
Same Engine, Different Competition
However, Russell emphasizes that the engine advantage is not exclusive to Mercedes. Other teams – including the dominant McLaren – will be starting with the same power unit. “At Mercedes, we are well aware that McLaren will also be running the same engine. In addition, Alpine will also receive the engine, and even customer team Williams could be very strong next year,” acknowledges Russell. “Even though we have confidence in a strong power unit, it does not automatically mean that we will be the favorites for the titles.”
Russell also warns that Mercedes cannot solely rely on engine power. “You can’t sit back, because there are plenty of teams on the grid running the same engine,” he adds. “We need to stay sharp, and ultimately, we are very aware that we have not won championships in the past four years – and that was not due to the engine.”
