BEYOND THE GRID: Mercedes’ path to 2026 with Toto Wolff and Hywel Thomas
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ Team Principal, and Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of Mercedes‑AMG High Performance Powertrains, join the latest episode of Beyond The Grid.
As Formula 1 enters a bold new era of rapid, exhilarating, and more sustainable racing in 2026, what changes will we actually see on the track?
In this installment, Wolff and Thomas explain how the revamped power units and advanced sustainable fuels are set to boost performance while requiring riders and teams to adapt their approaches and skill sets.
Host Tom Clarkson chats with them about their outlook on the eve of this rule cycle, drawing comparisons to 2014—the year they began a dominant stretch that yielded eight consecutive Constructors’ World Championships—and what they think about circulating whispers that Mercedes could be pre‑season favorites.
They also share reflections on the 2025 campaigns of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and offer thoughts on what lies ahead for these drivers in the years to come.
To hear this week’s episode, press play on the audio player above or visit https://podfollow.com/f1-beyond-the-grid/view to listen via your preferred platform.
If you’d like to explore more conversations, a vast library of past episodes spanning every era of F1 awaits in our dedicated Beyond The Grid archive here: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/tags/beyond-the-grid.63HGi6Q0grEg1ToZBtPNQ9.
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