George Russell had everyone laughing when he declared Mercedes’ new car “not a turd.” But behind the joke sits something more serious: genuine optimism that the Silver Arrows might finally be back.
The British driver is entering 2026 as the betting favorite to win his first world championship. That’s based on what Mercedes showed last week in Barcelona during pre-season testing. The team completed more laps than anyone else, ran a full race simulation, and came away saying the car behaved as their computers predicted.
That last part matters more than you might think.
Translating Design to Results on the Grid for Mercedes
Mercedes spent the last four years struggling with cars that looked great on paper but drove terribly on track. The team that dominated F1 from 2014 to 2020 suddenly couldn’t figure out why their machines wouldn’t do what the data promised. They’d build something in the simulator, take it to the track, and watch it bounce, slide, or just flat-out refuse to work properly.
Russell says that’s changed. The W17 handles the way it should. The aerodynamic numbers measured on the actual car match what they expected from simulations. Everything is lining up in a way it hasn’t since 2021, the last time Mercedes won a championship.
“The car reacted as we anticipated,” Russell explained after testing. “This is something we’ve not really experienced since 2021 as a team.”
That correlation between expectation and reality is why Mercedes left Barcelona feeling good. It’s not about lap times yet. It’s about understanding whether you’ve built what you thought you built. For four years, Mercedes didn’t have that understanding. Now they might.
Mercedes Gets New Life Thanks to F1 Regulations Revamp
The new regulations help. Formula 1 introduced completely new technical rules for 2026, changing both cars and engines. Everything resets. Mercedes is betting it can recreate its 2014 dominance when hybrids first arrived. Early signs suggest they might be right.
The engine looks strong. Mercedes power units completed tons of laps in testing without major problems. That’s not guaranteed with brand new technology. Ask Williams, which didn’t even make it to Barcelona because their car wasn’t ready. Reliability alone puts Mercedes ahead.
Russell was pushing hard from the first session, not tip-toeing around trying to keep the car in one piece. That suggests confidence. If there were major problems lurking, they’d have shown up by now. Russell knows this. He pointed out that even early in testing, you can tell when you’ve got serious issues. Mercedes doesn’t seem to have them.
Team boss Toto Wolff played it cautiously. He’s “wary and skeptical” about declaring the car a title contender. But he also said they wake up with more of a smile when the car is quick. Coming from Wolff, that’s practically a victory parade.
Russell isn’t getting carried away. He acknowledged Red Bull’s new power unit looked impressive in testing. Ferrari ran well too. It’s early, especially with two more tests in Bahrain before the season starts.
But the 27-year-old feels ready. He’s wanted a title-capable car for years. He might finally have one.
“I feel ready to fight for a world championship,” Russell said.
The real test comes in March when the points start counting. Mercedes dominated testing before. They’ve shown speed in practice sessions. They’ve teased potential for four straight years without delivering championships.
This time feels different. The car works as expected. The engine is reliable. Russell is confident without being cocky. And everyone in the paddock is watching Mercedes closely, wondering if the Silver Arrows are about to remind everyone why they won eight straight constructors’ championships.
It might not be a turd. It might be exactly what Mercedes needs.
