Williams will choose its engine supplier for 2026 this year
The new director of Williams, James Vowles, announced that a decision will be made this year regarding the engine that will equip their single-seaters starting from 2026.
The Williams team has been powered by Mercedes since the beginning of the hybrid era in Formula 1 in 2014. In 2026, a new technical regulation regarding engines will come into effect. This will notably see the introduction of sustainable fuel in the tanks and an increase in power generated by the energy recovery systems. The system will also be technically simplified, notably by removing the thermal motor-generator that recovers exhaust gases (MGU-H). This technical revolution has been supported by the manufacturers in order to bring the F1 cars’ technologies closer to those found in road cars. 2026 will see the arrival of two engine manufacturers in F1: Audi and Ford.
The new director of Williams, James Vowles, may therefore have an embarrassment of choices. Formerly a manager at Mercedes F1, he is delighted with the relationship he has with his current engine supplier: “We are satisfied with the relationship we have with Mercedes for many years. They have certainly produced the best power unit in Formula 1 over the past fifteen years. However, we still need to examine the state of the relationship and determine what the future holds.”
Vowles does not want to waste time and indicates that a choice must be made quickly regarding the future engine: « We need to make a decision this year. The more time passes, the more you will see teams maintaining their current situation. We are at the first step of a process which is to see what we want for the future. »
In any case, the news from the Grove team will be closely watched in the coming weeks. After a good start to the season in Bahrain, Williams is currently 7th in the constructor’s championship.
