Williams extends its engine contract with Mercedes until the end of 2030
The Williams team will continue to use a Mercedes engine at least until the end of the year 2030. The English team will benefit from the development of the German engine according to the post-2026 regulations. The two teams have been bound by a contract since 2014.
The partnership between Mercedes and Williams will be maintained until the end of 2030, with a new engine agreement being reached between the two teams. As a result, Mercedes will provide the powertrain for the new operational regulations in 2026. James Volwes expressed his enthusiasm following this extension by saying, “It’s fantastic to extend our partnership with Williams Racing until 2030.”
The Williams single-seaters have been equipped with a Mercedes engine since the hybrid era, which began in 2014, and this collaboration has helped the British team secure 18 podium finishes.
A crucial contract over the past seasons
Williams has experienced several difficult seasons, finding themselves at the bottom of the championship standings after occupying the 3rd place in constructors in 2015. Despite their 7th place in the last season, the team benefits from significant advantages thanks to the Mercedes engine. While the engine sometimes seems to lack power for the teams at the top of the leaderboard, it allows Williams to score crucial points in the middle and bottom of the standings, making the blue car one of the fastest on the grid.
“We have maintained a strong relationship with them since the introduction of the current regulation on powertrains, and we look forward to continuing this relationship in the next era,” explained the director of Williams. “Their commitment and support to our future powertrain strategy are highly appreciated. We are eager to approach these new regulations together, with the same passion and enthusiasm as in 2014, aiming for similar successes.”
A mutually beneficial partnership
Williams gains a significant advantage on the track with the Mercedes engine, one of the best on the grid, without the development issues on the English side. For Mercedes, besides the financial advantage, the contract is also beneficial in terms of sports. By supporting Williams, Mercedes does not weaken a title contender for the World Championship, considering the level of gap between the two cars. Moreover, this allows Mercedes to place their academy drivers in seats at Williams, such as George Russell.
“Williams is a historic F1 team, and during our partnership, we have achieved notable successes together since 2014,” emphasized Toto Wolff. “One of our greatest achievements in the current era of hybrid turbo has been seeing our power unit securing the top four positions at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix, with Williams rightfully taking the third and fourth spots. Our professional relationship with Williams has only grown stronger over the past decade, and we look forward to continuing this productive approach in the next generation of power units in 2026.”
Optimal preparation for 2026
The new regulation for 2026, with 50% of the powertrain powered by batteries and the remaining 50% by sustainable fuel, presents complex challenges for engine development. Williams greatly benefits from this partnership, as its engineers can focus on chassis and aerodynamics without worrying about the engine.
At the end of 2023, Mercedes had already announced the extension of their engine contract with McLaren. Williams will be the second team powered by Mercedes in 2026, while Aston Martin, currently equipped with a Mercedes engine, will switch to Honda in the new era.
