George Russell has admitted he is unsure when Mercedes will pin complete attention on Formula 1‘s new rules as he warned no team can be underestimated in 2026.
The current campaign represents the last one with the current ground effect cars until an extensive overhaul to the technical regulations comes into play next season.
There are several teams outside the leading quartet who are endeavouring to capitalise on the shake-up, with Williams revealing it has switched all resources to 2026.
That could provide Williams, and other sides adopting a similar approach, with an invaluable headstart on those who are continuing to develop their 2025 challengers.
Mercedes is among that group as Russell indicated that the German marque has imposed a summer deadline to resolve the limitations that have hamstrung the W16.
“I think there’s a number of factors that teams will continue to develop their cars throughout last year, because of going into this season,” Russell told media including Motorsport Week.
“Whereas you’ve already heard some teams are already 100 per cent on 2026. You have midfield teams, probably 75 per cent already on 2026.
“Then at some point, the top four teams need to pull the trigger as well.
“Of course, we’re already working exceptionally hard on 2026, but we’re not working 100 per cent on 2026.
“So, I think that’s why this year is different to other years, because, come summer, I would have thought every team would be 100 per cent on next year’s car.”
Why every team could spring a surprise in 2026
Russell has cautioned that no team should be discounted as a potential challenger under F1’s new rules amid the existence of a sliding scale on aerodynamic testing.
Having placed last in 2024, Sauber, which will evolve into a works Audi setup, is entitled to 144 more runs in its wind tunnel than leaders McLaren until a reset in June.
“When you think about the aero restrictions, we need to give every single F1 team the respect that they could do something special next year,” the Briton explained.
“When you look at the team who finished last in the Constructors last year, how much more wind tunnel time they’ll have on McLaren, for example, for 2026, it’s immense.
“When you’re in a new era of a regulation, you’re finding masses of performance every single week you’re doing the wind tunnel.”
Russell highlights potential Mercedes threat
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff vowed that Williams should no longer be regarded as “a dark horse” amid the sporadic threat that it has posed to the front-runners in 2025.
With Williams among the German marque’s engine customers, Russell has agreed that the Grove-based squad could emerge as a leading contender as soon as 2026.
“Maybe it won’t be one of the top four teams who’s best next year,” Russell, who spent three seasons with Williams between 2019 and 2021, continued.
“You’ve seen how well Williams are doing already this year, and there’s rumours that they’re already 100 per cent on next year.
“They’re going to have a Mercedes engine in the back. Maybe they’re going to be the team to beat, nobody knows.
“So it’s a really difficult time for the likes of James Allison (Mercedes Technical Director) and Toto to make the call to when to fully pull the trigger for next year.”
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