George Russell isn’t fully convinced that Mercedes will hit the track in 2026 with a major engine advantage. Despite months of rumors swirling about the Silver Arrows’ power unit for the upcoming season, the Brit is tempering expectations: ‘I’d be crazy to say I’m putting all my money on Mercedes.’
The burning question ahead of the 2026 season: just how good is Mercedes’ new engine? For some time now, whispers in the paddock suggest that the Silver Arrows’ power unit could be the best on the grid. The buzz intensified last December when rumors surfaced that Mercedes had a trick up its sleeve regarding compression ratios.
However, James Vowles – team principal of Williams, one of Mercedes’ customer teams – has been working to manage the high expectations surrounding the German team’s power unit. Now, George Russell is backing him up. “I’d be crazy to say I’m putting all my money on Mercedes,” Russell candidly told Auto Motor und Sport.
‘Excited About Regulation Changes’
But the Brit believes his team will be in a better position than during the last regulation cycle. “The aerodynamic rules for next year resemble those from the previous era (since 2014, editor’s note), when Lewis Hamilton dominated the field,” Russell explains. Adding to the driver’s optimism is the confidence in the power unit. “Mercedes has been the benchmark in this area for years.”
While much remains unclear about the cars for the upcoming season, Russell is certainly relieved that the pinnacle of motorsport is bidding farewell to ground effect cars. “We’re happy that the rules are changing. No one understood this generation of cars 100 percent. Not even McLaren.” Interestingly, McLaren did clinch the Constructors’ Championship in both 2024 and 2025.
