P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes is currently in second place in the F1 constructors’ championship – but this would come with “consequences” for the first half of 2026.
Mercedes is willing to face the “consequences” of finishing second in the F1 constructors’ championship ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have led Mercedes to a 32-point lead over Red Bull and a 36-point lead over Ferrari with three rounds remaining in 2025. Although finishing higher means more prize money, it also results in less aerodynamic testing time for the first half of the following season under the Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR). The ATR rules allocate less testing time to higher-placed teams to maintain performance balance. Despite the potential drawbacks, Mercedes’ Andrew Shovlin emphasizes the importance of aiming for second place, even at the cost of reduced development time. Shovlin highlights that McLaren’s success this year proves that wind-tunnel performance isn’t solely determined by the amount of testing time. Mercedes prioritizes finishing second and believes the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, especially with the ATR reset halfway through the following season amidst significant technical regulation changes.
