Mercedes has disclosed that it is aiming to accelerate upgrades to the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car to avoid losing ground on the new regulations coming next season.
The German marque has sustained a positive beginning to the ongoing campaign as George Russell has stood on the podium three times in the opening four rounds.
Mercedes has emerged as the most consistent contender to pacesetters McLaren, with the W16 providing a stable baseline compared to its recalcitrant predecessor.
But while the team harbours the ambition to close the gap to the Woking-based squad, Mercedes is also aware that it must divert resources to the revised 2026 rules.
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Mercedes Technical Director James Allison has divulged that is a conundrum that the team has had to incorporate into the development timeline that it has arranged.
“I think any team that has got a bit of common sense will still be putting a good chunk of their effort towards the future because the 2026 rules are such a tear-up from these ones,” Allison told media including Motorsport Week in Bahrain.
“These ones have just got 21 races left to go, and then they’re done.
“We’re trying to push as much as we can onto the car in this first quarter/third, of the year, and maybe we’ll have some bits after that, but it’s a lot of effort going into the future.
“Happily there is, even without changing the geometry of the car, there’s still quite a lot of lap time just in fine set-up work.”
Mercedes disclose upgrade plans for W16
Allison revealed that Mercedes’ inaugural wholesale upgrade package is scheduled to arrive next month at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the seventh round in 2025.
However, the Briton has indicated that the eight-time Constructors’ Champions will continue to roll out less pronounced updates to improve the W16 in the meantime.
“We’re certainly planning to bring a reasonable raft of stuff for Imola,” Allison addressed.
“But there’s some things this weekend [Bahrain] as well. Nothing as flash as a floor or as outwardly visible as a floor.
“But things that we’re interested in finding out how they perform.”
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