Mercedes W16

The Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance, commonly known as the Mercedes W16, is a Formula One racing car designed and built by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team to compete in the 2025 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by George Russell, in his fourth consecutive season with the team, partnering rookie driver Kimi Antonelli, who replaced seven-time World Drivers' Champion Lewis Hamilton, who departed for Ferrari following the end of the 2024 season. As such, this is the first Mercedes F1 car since the F1 W03, from the 2012 season, not to be driven by Hamilton. It took two wins, twelve podiums, two pole positions and six fastest laps.

Design and development

The "Project 21" initiative

Under James Allison's leadership, internal development of the W16, known as "Project 21," started in late 2023. After the "Zero-Pod" and "Foundational" vehicles' uneven performance, the engineering team concentrated on "Platform Stability." A car with a larger "operating window"—that is, one that would be quick regardless of track temperature or wind direction—was the aim.

Aerodynamic architecture

The W16 adopted a "Triple-Stage Undercut" sidepod design in place of the W15's extreme "push" philosophy:

The upper inlets separated cooling air from aerodynamic "clean" air using a "P-shaped" intake.
The Mid-Waist: A deeply sculpted midsection that created a "virtual" double-diffuser effect by directing air toward the rear beam wing.
The W16 was equipped with an advanced "Flex-Edge" floor. The floor edges would "seal" the ground effect by subtly deforming at high speeds using different carbon fiber weaves, simulating the active suspension that was outlawed in the 1990s.
The "M16" power unit

The last iteration of the 2014-era power unit regulations was the Mercedes-AMG M16 E Performance 1.6L V6 Turbo Hybrid.

Energy Recovery: The team removed "turbo lag" from slow corners like those in Singapore and Monaco by optimizing the MGU-H to deliver torque almost instantly.
Sustainability: As a testbed for the 100% sustainable fuels required for the 2026 season, the M16 was the first vehicle to use a 40% sustainable fuel blend supplied by PETRONAS.
2025 Competitive season

Early season challenges (Middle East and Asia)

's unexpected P2 finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix marked the W16's debut. But at first, the vehicle had trouble with "tire graining" in fast turns. Russell was able to secure another podium at the Chinese Grand Prix thanks to the team's improved front-wing endplate design, which better controlled the "outwash" of air around the front tires.

The "European resurgence"

At the Spanish Grand Prix, the car's full potential was revealed. The drivers were able to attack curbs more forcefully thanks to a significant update to the floor and rear suspension geometry.

Silverstone: George Russell won handily in a wet British Grand Prix, citing the W16's better mechanical grip.
Spa-Francorchamps: Andrea Kimi Antonelli demonstrated that the W16 could manage the high-speed, high-stress loads of the Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex by securing his first podium.
The championship fight

found itself in a three-way race with McLaren and Ferrari for second place in the World Constructors' Championship by the last flyaway races in the Americas. Russell won a lights-to-flag race in Singapore and a fiercely competitive P2 in Las Vegas, demonstrating the W16's remarkable speed in street circuits.

Controversies and technical inquiries

The "Flexi-Wing" debate

Several teams, most notably Red Bull Racing, submitted a technical inquiry about the W16's front wing to the FIA after the Austrian Grand Prix. The wing tips appeared to oscillate more than the allowed 10mm at speeds greater than 300 km/h in slow-motion video. The FIA declared the W16 to be completely legal following a series of load tests in Hungary, claiming that the deflection was "a natural characteristic of carbon fiber elasticity."File:2025 Japan GP - Mercedes - W16 - Thursday.jpg|thumb|left|The W16 was driven by George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli.|alt=W16 being assembled in the pit building prior to the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix

Livery

As with the other teams, Mercedes revealed the W16's livery at a bespoke event on 18 February 2025. It was similar to the W15's livery, but with minor changes, including a longer section of silver paint on the side of the car's nose. Mercedes has run one special livery at the British Grand Prix, which coincided with the launch of the AMG marque's Concept AMG GT XX. The livery added orange colours to the car.

Legacy

The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart is home to a preserved W16. It is remembered as the vehicle that demonstrated Mercedes could prosper in the "Post-Hamilton" era and as the starting point for Kimi Antonelli's career.