Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
The teams extend their relationship into the next generation of power units
Williams enjoyed their best season in Formula 1 since 2017 a year ago, when the team shocked many prognosticators to finish seventh in the Constructors’ Championship. Now, the power units that helped pave the way for that finish will remain in their cars until at least 2030.
Williams and Mercedes announced on Monday that the power unit agreement between the teams has been extended until 2030, and Williams will remain a customer team of Mercedes until at least that season. Williams started using Mercedes power units since 2014, when the hybrid era began in F1.
“We are delighted to confirm Williams Racing as the second customer team that we will supply for the 2026 power unit regulations. Today’s news highlights the strength of the Mercedes-Benz offering in F1 and importantly not only validates, but reinforces, our overall motorsport strategy,” said Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff in a statement to the media, including SB Nation. “Since 2014, we have continued to build and develop our relationship with Williams. As the team continues to put the foundations in place to challenge at the front of the grid, we look forward to supporting them with our power unit supply.”
As noted by the Mercedes team principal, new power unit regulations go into effect for the 2026 season. Williams is now the second team to confirm they will be a customer of Mercedes when the new regulations go into effect, following the announcement last November that McLaren extended their own deal with Mercedes until 2030.
“We have enjoyed a long-term partnership with Mercedes-Benz, and we are thrilled to extend this collaboration into the next era of Formula 1. The expertise, support, and technology that Mercedes brings to the table align perfectly with our team’s aspirations in the medium and long term,” added Williams Team Principal James Vowles. “This long-term agreement with Mercedes is a positive step and forms part of our strategic objectives for the future, whilst we will still retain our design and manufacturing expertise and capabilities in-house.”
Williams is hoping to improve on their seventh-place finish in 2024, with both Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant returning to the grid for the upcoming season. Mercedes finished second in the Constructors’ Championship last year.
