Mercedes poised to overtake Ferrari as F1's most winning engine manufacturer by 2026

Mercedes is on the cusp of surpassing Ferrari to become the most successful engine manufacturer in Formula 1 history by total Grand Prix victories. The German marque needs just 12 more wins to eclipse Ferrari's current record of 249, a target that could be achieved by the 2026 season given the current competitive strength of its customer teams, most notably the championship-leading McLaren squad.

Why it matters:

This potential shift represents more than just a statistical milestone; it symbolizes the transfer of power from F1's most historic and iconic manufacturer to its most dominant force of the modern hybrid era. The record has been held by Ferrari since 2008, and losing it would underscore the Scuderia's prolonged championship drought while cementing Mercedes' era of technical supremacy.

The details:

• Ferrari currently leads the all-time engine victory count with 249 wins, a record set when it powered Toro Rosso to victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
• Mercedes sits in second place with 238 victories, powered by its own works team and customer outfits like McLaren, Brawn GP, and Racing Point over the decades.
• Driver Contributions: The record books for both manufacturers are built on the success of legendary drivers. For Ferrari, Michael Schumacher's 72 wins are the cornerstone, supported by champions like Niki Lauda, Sebastian Vettel, and Kimi Räikkönen. For Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton's 104 wins with the power unit (21 with McLaren, 83 with the works team) form the bulk, aided by Nico Rosberg, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Mika Häkkinen.
• Recent Form: Ferrari's last drivers' championship was in 2007 (Räikkönen), and its last win was at the 2024 Mexican GP. In contrast, Mercedes-powered teams, particularly McLaren, have been consistently winning races and championships in recent seasons.
• The McLaren Factor: McLaren's current dominance as a Mercedes customer team is a critical accelerator. The Woking-based squad has won the last two Constructors' Championships and is a regular race winner, directly contributing to Mercedes' victory tally.

What's next:

The path to the record is now clearly visible for Mercedes. With two likely front-running teams (its own works squad and McLaren) using its power units in 2026, securing the 12 needed wins is a highly probable scenario.

• The primary question is not if, but when in 2026 the record will fall, barring a dramatic and immediate return to winning form by Ferrari.
• This impending milestone adds a compelling historical subplot to the 2026 season, which already features major technical regulation changes.