Williams Racing, the prominent UK-based Formula 1 (F1) racing team, has secured a contract extension with Mercedes, ensuring the continued use of Mercedes power units when the championship introduces new engine regulations in 2026.
The agreement is set to last until at least 2030, aligning with F1’s initiatives for enhanced sustainability, including fully sustainable fuels and increased electric power output, aiming to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030.
“It is fantastic to extend our partnership with Williams Racing until 2030,” James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, commented.
“We have enjoyed a strong relationship with them since the introduction of the current power unit regulations and look forward to continuing that into this next era.”
“Their commitment and support to our future power unit strategy is highly valued. We look forward to approaching these new rules set together, with the same passion and enthusiasm we did in 2014 and with the aim of achieving similar successes.”
We are delighted to continue our partnership with Mercedes-Benz into the new era of Formula 1 from the 2026 season onwards 🤝
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) January 8, 2024
Williams Racing has been utilising Mercedes power units since 2014, making it the second-longest power unit client for Mercedes, with Aston Martin holding the longest tenure since 2009 when they raced as Force India.
McLaren, a fellow F1 competitor, has also extended its contract with Mercedes, covering the new power unit era until 2030. McLaren returned to using Mercedes power units in 2019, rekindling a partnership that had previously run from 1995 to 2014.
Aston Martin, on the other hand, is set to conclude its current contract with Mercedes at the end of 2025, opting for Japanese carmaker Honda for its power units starting from the 2026 season.
Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport and team principal of the F1 team, highlighted the strength of the Mercedes-Benz offering in F1, reinforcing the overall motorsport strategy.
“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,” Wolff stated.
This recent agreement follows Williams’ announcement of a multi-year sponsorship deal with British e-commerce retail company THG, establishing THG as an official partner across nutrition, technology, e-commerce and sustainability.
Image credit: Jen Ross
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