Mercedes is already preparing for 2027 without abandoning its current car

Mercedes has ten wins from fourteen Grands Prix and a 145-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship. But its work on 2027 did not begin with that margin: Toto Wolff explained after the Spanish Grand Prix that the project had started before the summer, with resources being transferred during the summer break.

Wolff says this allocation follows an established programme regardless of the championship position. Mercedes is also continuing to develop its current car, even if its rate of introducing upgrades has been lower than Ferrari’s or McLaren’s. This is therefore neither a halt to 2026 development nor a switch made simply because the title might appear secure. Wolff points out that a run of retirements can quickly reduce the lead.