P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has said that its powertrains department is “fully on top” of rectifying recent reliability problems amid recent failures, which have curtailed F1 races for some drivers.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is confident that the powertrains department is fully addressing recent reliability issues that have affected some Formula 1 races.
Despite recent setbacks, Mercedes secured its first Grand Prix victory of the year in Canada, with George Russell claiming the win from pole position.
Rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli also clinched his first podium finish in third place, but the team faced challenges with power unit failures in other races.
Antonelli and Fernando Alonso experienced issues at Imola and Monaco, while Alex Albon’s Williams retired early in Montreal due to a similar problem.
Wolff expressed trust in Managing Director Hywel Thomas and the team at Brackley to resolve the issues before the next season begins.
Although Mercedes’ engines have been consistently reliable in the V6 hybrid era, recent failures may raise concerns for customers ahead of 2026.
Aston Martin is transitioning to Honda engines, attracting Alpine as a new customer, but efforts are underway to address and prevent future power unit problems.
