Mercedes Chief Warns 2026 Rules Won't Guarantee Return to Form

Mercedes' trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, has tempered expectations for the 2026 regulation changes, stating there is no guarantee the new rules will automatically return the team to its former dominant status. Despite welcoming the "fresh challenge," Shovlin emphasized that the team is not under any illusion that the upcoming rules will be a "return to business" for the Silver Arrows.

Why it matters:

After a difficult ground-effect era where Mercedes fell from the pinnacle of the sport to a midfield contender, the 2026 reset represents a critical opportunity. However, Shovlin's candid admission highlights the team's realistic approach and the immense challenge of reclaiming championship contention in a highly competitive field where no team has a divine right to success.

The Details:

• A Candid Assessment: Shovlin, a long-serving member of the team dating back to its Brawn GP and Honda origins, made it clear that the team is not expecting the new regulations to "miraculously suit" them more than their rivals.
• Learning from the Past: He acknowledged that the current ground-effect rules "haven't suited us like the previous ones did," forcing the team to learn and adapt throughout a cycle where they were often on the back foot compared to Red Bull and McLaren.
• A "Completely Fresh Challenge": While some have speculated that the 2026 rules, which will feature lighter, smaller cars with a significant increase in electrical power, might play to Mercedes' historical strengths, Shovlin dismissed this notion. The team is approaching the new cycle without any preconceived advantages.
• The Ultimate Test: Shovlin believes the 2026 regulations will broaden the scope of competition, with performance dependent on excelling across "more areas than we've ever had." Success will go to the team that can best master this complex set of new variables.
• No Shortcuts: He reiterated the team's mindset: "There's no illusion within the team that these rules will be a return to business as usual for Mercedes. We're going to have to work for it if we want to win."

What's next:

Mercedes is fully embracing the 2026 reset as an opportunity to start anew, but with the clear understanding that success must be earned through hard work and innovation, not handed to them by a rulebook. The team's focus will be on building a car and power unit package that can compete effectively from the outset, avoiding the struggles that plagued them at the beginning of the ground-effect era.