Mercedes Technical Director Reveals Upgrade Plans for the Remaining Races of 2025 F1 Season

The 2026 Formula 1 season promises a revolution in regulations, compelling teams to balance their efforts between refining current cars and preparing for the future. In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com and other media outlets at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes Technical Director James Allison shed light on the team’s strategy.

Splitting Resources Between Current and Future Cars

Allison emphasized that a significant portion of their efforts would be dedicated to developing the 2026 car. “Any team with a modicum of common sense will still be putting a good chunk of their effort towards the future,” he commented, referring to the drastic change in regulations for the upcoming season.

He further explained that while the current rules have 21 races left, they are pushing as much as possible onto the car during the first quarter or third of the year, with potential updates following.

Fine-tuning Setup Work for Performance Gains

Allison also mentioned that there is still room for significant lap time improvements through fine setup work, even without altering the car’s geometry.

Upgrades on the Horizon for Mercedes

When asked about when we can expect major upgrades to the W16, Allison revealed, “We’re certainly planning to bring a reasonable raft of stuff for Imola. But there are also things this weekend that we’re interested in testing.” While he didn’t specify any outwardly visible changes like a new floor, he hinted at some intriguing developments.

Mercedes has had an impressive start to the 2025 season with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli joining George Russell following Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. The team currently sits second in the constructors’ standings with 75 points, and Antonelli is fifth in the drivers’ championship with 30 points, just behind Russell who is fourth with 45 points.

Imola Grand Prix Approaching

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola will take place on 16-18 May, where we might see some of these anticipated updates from Mercedes. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the world of Formula 1!