Mercedes unveils its 2026 F1 car with new rules

This is set to 16:1 but the rules state that it will be measured at ambient temperature. A meeting between the teams and the FIA’s governing body on Thursday is scheduled to discuss concerns that Mercedes and Red Bull have found ways to increase compression ratios at high temperatures, which would increase power output.

“Any engineer who doesn’t understand thermal expansion doesn’t belong in this sport, doesn’t deserve to be an engineer, really,” Ben Hodgkinson, Red Bull’s engine boss, said last week. “Understanding how materials behave at different temperatures, pressures, strains and loads, that’s literally our job.”

The new Mercedes W17 is designed to improve on what is widely considered the biggest regulatory change in history, with new cars, engines, tires and a fully sustainable fuel mandate.

Digital images of the car were released on Thursday before it takes to the track for the first time at Silverstone later in the day.

Along with the other 10 teams, Mercedes then heads to the first pre-season test, which will be held behind closed doors with no independent media allowed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week. Teams are allowed to play on a maximum of three of the five testing days.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: “Formula 1 will undergo major changes in 2026, and we are ready for this transformation.”

“New regulations require innovation and absolute focus in every area of ​​performance. Our work on the new vehicle, and the long-term development of the power unit and advanced sustainable fuels, reflects this approach.”