Mercedes W17 to Hit Silverstone for Shakedown Ahead of 2026 Season

Mercedes has confirmed it will conduct a shakedown of its brand-new W17 at Silverstone on Thursday. The team hopes this machine, designed for the massive 2026 regulatory overhaul, will finally end its title drought after struggling to master the ground effects era.

Why it matters:

The 2026 season represents the biggest package of rule changes in F1 history, specifically regarding power units. Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) set the benchmark with the initial turbo hybrids in 2014, making the works team a pre-season favorite. After failing to replicate Red Bull or McLaren's recent success, this reset is viewed as the perfect opportunity to return to championship contention.

The details:

• Track Debut: The W17 will run at the British Grand Prix venue on Thursday. It is the fifth 2026-spec car to hit the track, following Audi, Racing Bulls, Cadillac, and new Mercedes customer Alpine.
• Driver Lineup: The shakedown will be handled by team leader George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who is entering his second full season of grand prix racing.
• Recent History: Despite winning only seven races across the last four seasons—including zero in 2023—Mercedes managed to finish runner-up in the constructors' championship in both 2023 and 2025.
• Staff Changes: Chief designer John Owen is stepping down ahead of the new campaign, entering a period of gardening leave before a move elsewhere.

What's next:

Following this initial shakedown, the focus will shift to extensive testing and development to ensure reliability and performance. The team will be watching closely to see if the synergy between the new power unit and chassis can finally challenge the dominance established by their rivals in the previous regulatory era.