That year marked not only the debut of the first Mercedes-Benz works car but also the beginning of a powerful partnership with PETRONAS, whose iconic emerald green became synonymous with the team’s racing identity.
From the V8 era to the turbo hybrid revolution in 2014, Mercedes and PETRONAS have collaborated to redefine what’s possible in Formula One.
“Formula One is all about innovation,” said CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff.
“It takes a group of likeminded people working hand in hand, setting lofty goals against what at the time seems unscalable ambitions.”
The hybrid era brought a philosophical shift—efficiency became performance. As Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, explained, “Thermal efficiency, energy recovery, battery integration—all had to work as one. We needed a partner like PETRONAS to help us build that system right at the core of development.”
Throughout this era, PETRONAS’ role extended beyond the racetrack. “Our partnership has led to significant milestones,” said Faiz Sulaiman, PETRONAS’ representative.
“It gave us a testbed to innovate our fuels and lubricants in delivering world-class performance, reliability, and efficiency for millions of road users.”
Now, the sport stands on the brink of another seismic shift. The 2026 regulations will introduce a new power unit with increased electric power and 100% sustainable fuels, alongside a redesigned chassis that promises lighter, more aerodynamic cars.
“Sustainability has become a driver of performance,” noted Bradley Lord, Mercedes’ Team Representative and Chief Communications Officer. “It’s not a trade-off anymore—it’s an advantage when done right.”
The journey to 2026 is already underway, and Mercedes and PETRONAS are leading the charge. “This level of change is not just evolution, it’s reinvention,” said Sulaiman.
“Our partnership becomes increasingly valuable with shared R&D, innovation and a commitment to lead the sport into a new era.”
Fans can look forward to a four-part series exploring this transformation. The first, available to watch now here, dives into the history team’s transversing of F1 regulations since returning to the sport in 2010. The second episode will delve into the new 2026 power unit, the third will spotlight the incredible 100% sustainable fuels created by PETRONAS, and the fourth will examine the upcoming chassis regulations.
Viewers can find these episodes on the team website under the new 2026 tab and across the team and PETRONAS’ social media channels.