Mercedes W16

Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance

Kimi Antonelli driving the W16 during the Japanese Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Designers	James Allison (Technical Director) Simone Resta (Deputy Technical Director) John Owen (Car Design Director) Jarrod Murphy (Aerodynamics Director) David Nelson (Performance Director) Giacomo Tortora (Engineering Director) Ashley Way (Chief Engineer - Car Design) Hywel Thomas (Managing Director - Power Unit) Lorenzo Sassi (Engineering Director - Power Unit)
Predecessor	Mercedes W15
Successor	Mercedes W17
Technical specifications
Suspension (front)	Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod-activated springs and dampers
Suspension (rear)	Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod-activated springs and dampers
Length	over 5,000 mm (197 in)
Width	2,000 mm (79 in)
Height	950 mm (37 in)
Engine	Mercedes-AMG F1 M16 E Performance 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motor	Motor Generator Unit Kinetic (MGU-K) and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission	Mercedes 8-speed hydraulic actuated semi automatic sequential gearbox, + 1 reverse gear
Weight	800 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)
Fuel	Petronas Primax
Lubricants	Petronas Tutela
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (Dry/Slick) Pirelli Cinturato (Wet/Treaded) with BBS forged magnesium wheels: 18"
Competition history
Notable entrants	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Notable drivers	12. Kimi Antonelli 63. George Russell
Debut	2025 Australian Grand Prix
First win	2025 Canadian Grand Prix
Last win	2025 Singapore Grand Prix
Last event	2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 24 2 12 2 6

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. ^[1] 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. ^[2] 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, ^[2] internal development of the W16, known as "Project 21," ^[3] started in late 2023. ^[4] After the "Zero-Pod" (W13 ^[5] /W14 ^[6] ) and "Foundational" (W15) ^[7] vehicles' uneven performance, the engineering team ^[8] concentrated on "Platform Stability." ^[9] A car with a larger "operating window" ^[10] —that is, one that would be quick regardless of track temperature ^[11] or wind direction ^[12] —was the aim.

Aerodynamic architecture

The W16 adopted a "Triple-Stage Undercut" ^[13] sidepod design in place of the W15's extreme "push" ^[14] philosophy:

• The upper inlets separated cooling air ^[15] from aerodynamic ^[16] "clean" air using a "P-shaped" ^[17] intake.
• The Mid-Waist: A deeply sculpted midsection that created a "virtual" double-diffuser effect by directing air toward the rear beam wing. ^[18]
• The W16 was equipped with an advanced "Flex-Edge" ^[19] floor. The floor edges would "seal" the ground effect by subtly deforming at high speeds using different carbon fiber weaves, ^[20] simulating the active suspension that was outlawed in the 1990s. ^[21]

The "M16" power unit

The last iteration of the 2014-era power unit ^[22] regulations was the Mercedes-AMG M16 E Performance 1.6L V6 Turbo Hybrid. ^[23]

• Energy Recovery: The team removed "turbo lag" ^[24] from slow corners like those in Singapore ^[25] and Monaco ^[26] by optimizing the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) ^[27] to deliver torque ^[28] almost instantly.
• Sustainability: As a testbed ^[29] 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. ^[30]

2025 Competitive season

Early season challenges (Middle East and Asia)

George Russell's ^[31] unexpected P2 finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix ^[32] marked the W16's debut. But at first, the vehicle had trouble with "tire graining" ^[33] in fast turns. Russell was able to secure another podium at the Chinese Grand Prix ^[34] thanks to the team's improved front-wing endplate ^[35] design, which better controlled the "outwash" of air around the front tires. ^[36]

The "European resurgence"

At the Spanish Grand Prix, ^[37] the car's full potential was revealed. The drivers were able to attack curbs more forcefully thanks to a significant update to the floor ^[38] and rear suspension geometry. ^[39]

• Silverstone ^[40] : George Russell won handily in a wet British Grand Prix, ^[41] citing the W16's better mechanical grip. ^[42]
• Spa-Francorchamps ^[43] : Andrea Kimi Antonelli ^[44] demonstrated that the W16 could manage the high-speed, high-stress loads of the Eau Rouge-Raidillon ^[45] complex by securing his first podium (P3).

The championship fight

Mercedes found itself in a three-way race with McLaren ^[46] and Ferrari ^[47] for second place in the World Constructors' Championship ^[48] by the last flyaway races in the Americas. Russell won a lights-to-flag race in Singapore and a P2 in Las Vegas, ^[49] demonstrating the W16's speed in street circuits.

Controversies and technical inquiries

The "Flexi-Wing" debate

Several teams, most notably Red Bull Racing, ^[50] submitted a technical inquiry ^[51] about the W16's front wing to the FIA after the Austrian Grand Prix. ^[52] The wing tips appeared to oscillate ^[53] 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 ^[54] following a series of load tests in Hungary, ^[55] claiming that the deflection ^[56] was "a natural characteristic of carbon fiber elasticity." ^[57]

The W16 was driven by George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli.

Further information: 2025 Formula One World Championship § Technical regulations

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 ^[58] in Stuttgart ^[59] is home to a preserved W16. It is remembered as the vehicle that demonstrated Mercedes could prosper in the "Post-Hamilton" era ^[60] and as the starting point for Kimi Antonelli's career. ^[61]

Complete Formula One results

Key

Key
Colour	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	Second place
Bronze	Third place
Green	Other points position
Blue	Other classified position
	Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple	Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
	Race cancelled (C)
Blank	Did not practice (DNP)
	Excluded (EX)
	Did not arrive (DNA)
	Withdrawn (WD)
	Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation	Meaning
P	Pole position
F	Fastest lap
Superscript number	Points-scoring position in sprint

Year	Entrant	Power unit	Tyres	Driver name	Grands Prix																								Points	WCC pos.
					AUS	CHN	JPN	BHR	SAU	MIA	EMI	MON	ESP	CAN	AUT	GBR	BEL	HUN	NED	ITA	AZE	SIN	USA	MXC	SAP	LVG	QAT	ABU
2025	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team	Mercedes-AMG F1 M16 E Performance 1.6 V6 t	P	George Russell	3	34	5	2	5	34	7	11	4	1PF	5	10	5	3F	4	5	2	1P	62	7F	43	2	62	5	469	2nd
				Kimi Antonelli	4	67	6F	11	6	67	Ret	18	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	16F	10	16	9	4	5	138 F	6	22	3	56	15
Source:

References

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External links

This video provides a deep dive into the technical design and livery of the Mercedes W16, which helps visualize the "Triple-Stage Undercut":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUVd7uo9wvY