Brundle: Mercedes 'hit the sweet spot' with new W17 F1 car in testing

Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle believes Mercedes has found an early advantage with its new W17 car, suggesting the team has "hit the sweet spot" following private testing in Barcelona. While cautioning that true performance can only be judged in varied conditions, Brundle's analysis points to a cohesive and promising package from the Silver Arrows under the sport's new technical regulations.

Why it matters:

After struggling for consistency and understanding with its ground-effect cars since 2022, a strong start under the fresh 2026 regulations is critical for Mercedes. The team, which dominated the previous hybrid era, is under pressure to return to championship-winning form. Early indications of a well-sorted car could signal a significant shift in the competitive order and restore confidence within the Brackley squad.

The details:

• Brundle noted that Mercedes appears to have "aced this completely different set of regulations," a stark contrast to its difficulties mastering the previous ground-effect aerodynamic philosophy.
• The new regulations mandate a 50/50 power split between internal combustion and electric energy, placing a premium on energy recovery and battery management—areas where Mercedes-powered units have traditionally been strong.
• The analyst highlighted that the car's concept looks good, showing "relentless pace and reliability" in early running, but tempered his optimism by recalling past Mercedes cars that could be sensitive to track temperature.

What's next:

The real test begins when pre-season testing transitions to the opening race weekends with higher ambient temperatures and full competitive sessions. Brundle's key question remains whether the W17 can maintain its performance on "normal track temperatures" without overheating its tires. If the early promise translates to consistent race pace, Mercedes could immediately re-establish itself as a regular front-runner, setting the stage for a compelling multi-team battle at the front of the grid.