Mercedes Exec Explains Works Team Edge in F1's New Era

Mercedes' engine boss, Hywel Thomas, has outlined a key theory for the new 2026 F1 season: the works team enjoys a natural advantage over its customer teams, even when supplying identical power units. This comes as the grid resets with new chassis and engine regulations, putting a premium on seamless integration between the car and its new hybrid powertrain.

Why it matters:

The 2026 season represents a complete technical reset, making early development and integration crucial. Thomas's comments highlight a potential structural inequality in the sport, where factory teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull could gain an initial edge through closer collaboration with their engine divisions, despite rules mandating identical hardware for customers. This theory challenges the narrative cemented by McLaren's recent title wins with a customer Mercedes engine.

The details:

• The Works Team Theory: Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), explained that the geographical and organizational proximity between the F1 team and HPP creates "more links" at all levels. When design direction conflicts arise, the works team's preference naturally takes precedence.
• Customer Success Story: McLaren, a Mercedes customer, won the Constructors' titles in 2024 and 2025, proving a customer can win championships. However, team principal Andrea Stella noted it's "no coincidence" their suspected 2026 rivals (Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull) are all works teams, acknowledging the fresh challenge of new rules.
• Early Season Speculation: Testing in Bahrain left the true pecking order unclear, with Ferrari setting the ultimate pace. Reports suggest Alpine, another Mercedes customer, expects a power unit upgrade for the first race, while Sky F1 claimed McLaren is also receiving a slightly upgraded Mercedes PU for Melbourne.
• Regulatory Context: The rules require an engine manufacturer to supply identical power units to all its teams. The perceived advantage, therefore, stems not from hardware but from the depth of collaboration and data sharing in packaging and optimizing the entire car.

What's next:

All theories will be put to the test at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Thomas himself stated that qualifying there will be the "real first test," as it's the first time all teams will reveal their true performance without sandbagging or unknown fuel loads. The weekend will reveal whether Mercedes' works team advantage materializes on track and how customer teams like McLaren and Williams have managed the integration challenge. The early pecking order will set the narrative for the opening phase of F1's new era.