Mercedes-AMG Petronas: Pure Dominance

Hermione Morgan
3 days ago
3 min read

A Legacy of Dominance & What's Next

Few names in modern motorsport resonate with the same weight as Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. Born from the ashes of Brawn GP's surprise 2009 title victory, Mercedes has gone on to become one of the most successful teams in the sport's history - rewriting records and shaping how we think about hybrid performance, innovation and championship pedigree.

Rise of the Silver Arrows

Although Mercedes' innovation in Grand Prix racing stretches back to the early days of Formula 1, including legendary success with Juan Manual Fangio in the 1950s, the modern team truly took off when the German manufacturer bought the Brawn GP outfit and entered F1 as a works team in 2010.

From that point, the team's trajectory was meteoric.

Between 2014 and 2021, Mercedes secured a record eight consecutive Constructors' Championships and seven consecutive Drivers' Championships, driven by Lewis Hamilton through all years. With Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas playing their parts too. As a testament to consistency, innovation and team strength over more than a decade of competition, Mercedes have won over 115 races since 2010.

With the Turbo-Hybrid era proving technical success for the team, Mercedes unrivalled hybrid engine, and it's integration with advanced aero and chassis, reshaped F1's competitive landscape.

This run not only brought unprecedented success on track but helped cement the team's reputation as a technical powerhouse in a sport where innovation is the currency of victory.

Transition Years: Rebuilding & Rebranding

The recent seasons have been a period of transition for Mercedes-AMG. This comes as a result of Red Bull Racing's surge of dominance since 2021.

After the initial ground-effect rules (or "new era" rules) were introduced in 2022, rival teams like Red Bull and McLaren surged in performance. Mercedes finished third in the 2022, second in 2023, fourth in 2024, and second in 2025. These were strong results, but short of championship glory.

In 2024, Lewis Hamilton announced he would be making a move to Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season. This sent shockwaves around the paddock, and certainly rustled Mercedes. The departure of Hamilton - the team's most decorated driver - marked a symbolic shift. In the 2025 season, the line-up featured Mercedes veteran, George Russell, and rookie Kimi Antonelli, representing the new generation of talent. This pairing is also set for the 2026 season.

While championship hardware has eluded them recently, Mercedes' fundamentals remain rock solid. Things like leadership under Toto Wolff, engineering expertise and a clear developmental direction has helped them further the team's walls.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

The 2026 regulations represent the biggest shake-up in F1 technical rules in years, with the new power unit specifications, sustainable fuels and a bigger electrical component. This is all part of Formula 1's plan to go Carbon Neutral by 2030. The new power units will be 50/50 fuel powered and electric.

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE SILVER ARROWS:

New Power Unit Era

Mercedes is readying its 2026 challenger, the W17 E PERFORMANCE, set for reveal in January 2026 ahead of the pre-season testing.

These new engines will run 100% advanced sustainable fuels and far more electric drive, putting energy efficiency and sustainability at the heart of the performance.

Petronas Partnership Extended

Mercedes' long-running partnership with Petronas, their title and technical partner since 2010, has been extended beyond 2026, focusing on sustainable fuels and strengthening the team's technical base for the future.

Driver Stability & Potential Moves

George Russell remains a key figure as team leader, with hints that Mercedes could remain flexible in driver strategy if opportunities arise in later seasons.

What This Means for Fans and F1

The shake-up in 2026 could reset the competitive order, and Mercedes clearly intends to be in the fight. Their sustained investment in power unit innovation and sustainability gives them a strong platform.

Mercedes and Petronas are pushing sustainable and eco-friendly fuels and tech that go beyond racing, bringing road-relevant innovation to the forefront of F1's future.

With the new rules, renewed technical focus and solid driver line-up, Mercedes is widely tipped to be among the teams challenging for top honours once more.

From dominant constructors and driver championships to a strategic rebuild and a bold new era ahead, Mercedes-AMG Petronas remains one of Formula 1's defining stories. As the sport evolves - technically, socially and commercially - the Silver Arrows are positioning themselves not just to adapt, but to lead the next generation of racing history.