Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said on Thursday that Formula One would undergo “significant change” in 2026 as the team unveiled their new car.
The British-based outfit dominated the sport from 2014 to 2021, winning eight constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships.
But they were overtaken by Red Bull and McLaren after the previous set of new rules was introduced in 2022.
Fresh chassis and engine regulations are being introduced this season in a major shake-up in the sport.
Mercedes, with Briton George Russell and Italian Kimi Antonelli at the wheel, have been tipped to set the pace.
The team released digital images of their new W17 car on Thursday, describing the 2026 season as “the biggest technical shake-up in the sport’s history”.
The W17 is smaller, narrower, and lighter than its predecessor.
“Formula One will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition,” said team principal Wolff.
“The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance.”
Pre-season testing starts next week behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with further testing in Bahrain ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 8. (JapanToday)
George Russell in a Mercedes took pole position Saturday for the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, as McLaren were outpaced around the Marina Bay Circuit.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start on the second row after coming third while his McLaren teammate Lando Norris was only fifth.
Russell set a blistering lap of 1 minute, 29.158 seconds, 0.182 seconds clear of Verstappen.
“Amazing to be on pole position. Yesterday was a very challenging day for many different reasons but good to come back and get a result,” said Russell.
His fellow Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was fourth to split the two McLarens.
“A long sweaty race tomorrow but I knew there was potential in the car,” added Russell.
“Kimi was doing an amazing job all weekend.”
The Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Chalres Leclerc were sixth and seventh respectively.
Isack Hadjar (RB), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) completed the top 10.
Verstappen won the previous two grands prix, in Monza and Baku, and is challenging the season-long dominance of the McLarens at the top of the standings.
He now has a chance of a maiden victory in Singapore that would keep him in the hunt for a fifth consecutive world title, having closed the gap to Piastri to 69 points and to 44 points on Norris.
McLaren are looking to wrap up the constructors’ championship this weekend, where a podium finish for one of their cars will ensure a second consecutive title with six races to spare.
Liam Lawson, who on Saturday crashed his RB for the second successive practice session causing a red flag, managed to qualify in 14th after his engineers repaired the damage between the sessions.
Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber was 11th and also failed to make it to the top-10 shootout alongside the Williams of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, plus the Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda in 15th.
Hamilton was investigated for an alleged red flag infringement relating to Lawson’s incident, but escaped a potential grid penalty after stewards deemed he “did not drive in a manner that could be considered unsafe”.
Gabriel Bortoleto in a Sauber, Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, the Haas of Esteban Ocon and the Alpines of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly were eliminated in Q1.
Sunday’s race in tropical Singapore has been declared the first official Formula One “Heat Hazard” with temperatures during the grand prix predicted to be 31C or higher.
That means all drivers must have liquid-cooled vests and refrigerant pump equipment available, though wearing them is not mandatory.Drivers were seen trying out the vests and their associated maze of cooling tubes under their fireproof overalls. (JapanToday)
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