2026 Bahrain F1 Grand Prix in Malaysia - Mercedes-Benz Preview

 

Toto Talks Sepang

This weekend has extra significance for us because of our long-standing relationship with PETRONAS. It's fantastic to see Formula One returning to Sepang and we should also recognize the effort that has gone into making this Grand Prix happen. It has required strong collaboration between Malaysia and Bahrain, and that deserves credit.

Once the cars are on track, though, our focus is on the job ahead. Sepang is a demanding circuit that asks every question of the car. You need performance in the high-speed corners, good traction, strong tire management and consistency in hot, challenging conditions. It is one of the more complete tests on the calendar.

We are bringing an update package this weekend, and that is an important step for us. At the more representative circuits in recent races, we have not been where we want to be. Monza and Baku presented unique challenges, but on the more conventional tracks we have not been in the fight for pole position. We know that and we are working hard to change it.

The update is hopefully another step forward, but there are no guarantees in F1. The stopwatch is always the final judge. Our focus is on understanding the package quickly, executing the weekend well, and aiming to put ourselves in the fight at the front.

Third Driver Insight

It's great to see Sepang back on the F1 calendar. Whilst it is a track I’ve never driven in person, I know it quite well having driven it extensively in the simulator. It is exciting to see F1 return there, particularly given it's the home race of PETRONAS, our Title and Technical Partner, so it is a very important event for the team.

Sepang is a real test for the car and driver. There are plenty of high-speed corners where you want good downforce and confidence in the car, but there are also several long straights.  The medium and high-speed sections are where lap time is ultimately won or lost; it is easy to leave time on the table if you're not extracting everything from the lap. Combined with the heat and humidity, it makes for a demanding but very rewarding challenge.

Did you know?

• This year’s race is officially called the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
• Sepang hosted 19 F1 Grands Prix between 1999 and 2017; designed by Hermann Tilke, it became the first purpose-built F1 venue in Asia when it opened just before the turn of the century.
• The Sepang International Circuit is one of the widest tracks ever used in F1, measuring between 16 and 22 meters wide, allowing multiple racing lines and creating overtaking opportunities throughout the lap. 
• The combination of high temperatures and humidity means a race at Sepang is considered one of the most physically demanding challenges for drivers on the calendar.
• Whilst Mercedes claimed a single victory at Sepang courtesy of Lewis Hamilton in 2014, the team has stood on the top step six times at the Bahrain Grand Prix thanks to wins from Hamilton (2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021) and Rosberg (2016).
• Adding to the occasion, the W17 will carry a special PETRONAS-inspired livery in Sepang, reflecting the colors of the team's title partner for this landmark event.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix F1 Results -- Mercedes-Benz and George Russell are Victorious

 

Russell Caps Off Dominant Baku Weekend

• George Russell claimed victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing the eighth win of his Formula One career and his third victory of the 2026 season.
• Team-mate Kimi Antonelli recovered from P16 on the grid to finish P5, making impressive progress through the field after his Q1 exit in qualifying.
• George converted pole position into the race lead at the start and controlled proceedings throughout a race shaped by multiple Safety Car periods.
• The opening stages saw the field neutralised following an incident with Alex Albon at Turn 1, with subsequent Safety Car interventions creating several race restarts and strategic decision points.
• George managed each restart effectively, maintaining track position and pace at the front to build the platform for victory.
• Kimi capitalised on the interruptions and alternative strategies to move through the field, combining strong race pace with decisive overtaking to secure a top five finish.
• George Russell took the chequered flag ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, while Kimi Antonelli recovered to P5

Driver	Grid	Result	Fastest Lap	Start Tyre	Stop One
George Russell	P1	P1	1:44.916	Medium	Soft (Lap 32)
Kimi Antonelli	P16	P5	1:45.413	Medium	Soft (Lap 31)

George Russell

It's been an incredible weekend and probably one of the strongest of my career so far. I really enjoyed that race and that final stint was some of the most fun I’ve had in a Formula One race. We had strong pace throughout and were able to build a good gap, so when the Safety Car came out it was a little frustrating, but around a circuit like Baku that's always a possibility.

The restart was probably the most stressful moment of the afternoon with Max right behind me, but I managed it well and from there it was all about staying focused and not making any mistakes. In the final stint we were both pushing hard, and whilst it was intense in the car, those are the moments you enjoy as a driver.

I've felt comfortable all weekend, and at the moment things seem to be coming naturally behind the wheel. We're in a good place, but Formula One changes very quickly so you have to keep pushing. The aim is to keep working hard, keep building this momentum and hopefully continue fighting at the front over the races ahead.

Kimi Antonelli

Today was about damage limitation. I took no unnecessary risks at all and focused on maximising the points scored for the team. It was difficult to make progress at times because we were in an overtaking train, but I focused on staying out of trouble and taking the opportunities when they came.

It was one of those weekends where everything doesn't quite go your way. The pace wasn't quite there for me today, but given where we started, I have to be happy with P5. I just tried to race the race in front of me, stay patient and bring the car home. We were able to benefit from some of the opportunities that came our way and score as many points as possible.

Luckily, we have another race coming up very soon, so I'm fully focused on that and really looking forward to it.

Bradley Lord, Deputy Team Principal

It's been a really impressive weekend from George, he simply hasn’t put a foot wrong. He hit the ground running in FP1 and set the pace from then on. Even with the way the Safety Cars and restarts unfolded, he managed everything that was thrown at him and delivered a race that was completely error free, even with Verstappen breathing down his neck in the final stint. Around Baku, that's easier said than done.

Today's race was always going to be a different challenge for Kimi. With the limited running he had through the weekend, it was important that he didn't come into the race thinking it was Monza Part Two and trying to force the issue. Instead, he drove the race that was in front of him, showed a really good grasp of the bigger picture, and recovered well to P5. That was an impressive performance in its own right.

It's a great way for the team to start this demanding triple-header. We've scored strongly with both cars, executed well throughout the weekend, and given ourselves a solid foundation heading into the next race. Malaysia is a special event for us given our title partnership with PETRONAS, and we'll take the learnings from this weekend, keep working hard, and look to maximise our performance again next week.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

Congratulations to George and the team on a fantastic victory. He has been quick throughout the weekend and converted a brilliant pole position into an assured race win today. The Safety Cars kept things interesting and there was pressure at each restart, but George managed the race superbly and delivered when it mattered most.

Kimi also did an excellent job to recover from P16 on the grid to finish fifth. After yesterday's disappointment, he stayed focused and made the most of the opportunities that came his way. His pace was strong throughout the race and he worked his way through the field with several decisive overtakes.

The Safety Cars meant there was little opportunity to relax at any stage of the race, particularly for George at the front, but both drivers handled the challenges well and extracted the maximum from the opportunities available to them. 

We've had a competitive car from the first laps in Baku and it's pleasing to have converted that pace into a strong result. George was in control throughout the race, while Kimi's recovery drive demonstrated both the pace of the car and his determination after a difficult qualifying session. We leave Azerbaijan with good momentum and plenty of positives to take into the next event.

My New Mercedes R 107 1973 350SL

 

So this is about as crazy a post as you will get in this group. Often, we have posts of folks with new R 107 acquisitions. This is a bit different. Not looking for value or advice on whether or not I should restore. Yesterday at a flea market I purchased three matchbox classics for $1. One was this 1973 R 107 in rough shape but made in England. It even has provenance. "Billy." Seriously, to what degree toys like these have led to some of you much later in life being endeared with the beauty of the R 107? Why is there such a committed following to this car's design and colors?

Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix Preview -- Mercedes_Benz

 

Toto Talks Azerbaijan

The last two race weekends have delivered good results, but they don't change our assessment of where we stand. There are several teams capable of fighting at the front on any given weekend and in Madrid, we performed well but also benefited from things falling our way during the race. We are realistic about that.

Now we head into the first of three triple-headers to end the season. It will be a demanding period for the whole team, both at the factories and trackside. There is very little time to reset between races, so preparation, reliability and operational execution become even more important. These are the moments where our championship position can be strengthened or lost.

We start in Baku. It is one of the most unusual circuits on the calendar. It asks a lot from the car and the drivers. You need good straight-line speed, confidence in the braking zones and a car that can handle the low-speed corners through the old city.

Recent results have been encouraging, but they don't guarantee anything. Baku will expose any weakness very quickly. We have to approach the weekend with humility, do the basics well, and earn every point.

Third Driver Insight

Baku is a unique challenge. With its long straights, energy management is always a key factor, but it also offers some of the best overtaking opportunities on the calendar. To be quick here, you need to use every centimeter of the circuit and commit to getting close to the walls.

From a driver's perspective, taking those risks can be very rewarding, especially through Sector 2 where the corners are extremely tight and the barriers are always within touching distance. If you can carry speed through that section, it can make a significant difference over a qualifying lap. The downside is that even the smallest mistake usually results in damage and can easily bring a session to an end.

It's a fantastic circuit and one of the highlights of the season. Despite being a street track, it produces great racing and plenty of overtaking, which always makes for an exciting race and some memorable battles.

Did you know?

• This year's Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks a significant milestone as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• The Baku City Circuit is the fourth longest on the F1 calendar this year.
• The 2.2 km start/finish straight contributes to a difficult restart for the leader, with a strong tow for the driver behind leaving them vulnerable into Turn 1.
• The name Baku derives from the shortened Persian name Bad-kuye, meaning "wind city", along with Bad-kube, which means "wind-hitting." Both terms refer to the famously consistently strong winds that blow through the city.
• Baku hosted an F1 Sprint weekend for the one and only time to date in 2023.
• In 2024, the event moved dates to September for the first time, having previously taken place in the first half of the season (April or May).
• F1 first visited Baku in 2016, when the race was known as the European Grand Prix. It has been known as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix every year since.
• The team has recorded three wins in Baku with three different drivers – Nico Rosberg (2016), Lewis Hamilton (2018), and Valtteri Bottas (2019).
• George has also triumphed in Baku, winning the F2 Sprint race in 2018.
• Third Driver Fred Vesti claimed his maiden F2 victory in Baku in the 2022 Sprint race.
• Kimi has also stood on the podium in Azerbaijan as he finished third in the F2 Feature race in 2024.

• Circuit Characteristics
  Circuit Length	6.003 km
  Race Laps	51
  Race Distance	306km
  Number of Corners	20 (12 L / 8 R)
  Distance from Pole to First Braking Zone	130m
  Pole Position Side	Right
  Pit Lane Length Under Speed Limit Control	329m
  Drive-Through Time at 80 km/h	14.8s
  Braking Events (>2G)	8
  Heavy Braking Events (<0.4s @ >4G)	1
  Braking Energy	High
  Top Speed	341 km/h (expected)
  Race Lap Record	1:43.009 (LEC / 2019)
  Absolute Lap Record	1:40.203 (LEC / Q3 / 2023)

   

  Race Characteristics
  Safety Car Probability	60%	Average Track Temperature	27.2 °C
  Average Ambient Temperature	22.6 °C	Maximum Track Temperature	40.1 °C
  Maximum Ambient Temperature	29.6 °C	Wet Session Probability	0%

   

  Race Records - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in Azerbaijan
  	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Pole Positions	Front row places	Fastest laps	DNF
  Mercedes	9	3	8	3	8	3	1
  George Russell	6	0	3	0	1	1	1
  Kimi Antonelli	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
  MB Power	9	4	14	4	10	4	9

   

  Mercedes-Benz in Formula One
  	Starts	Wins	Podium Places	Pole Positions	Front Row Places	Fastest Laps	1-2 Finishes	Front-Row Lockouts
  Mercedes (all-time)	355	141	329	153	287	122	63	87
  Mercedes (since 2010)	343	132	312	145	267	113	58	83
  George Russell	166	7	31	11	25	12	N/A	N/A
  Kimi Antonelli	38	8	15	6	10	10	N/A	N/A
  MB Power	625	251	691	262	523	250	110	137

   

   

Mercedes W 108 Development Film: Rare and from the1960s -- English subtitles

 

The Current Energy Crisis is Taking the U.S. to a Cusp of Profound Change -- 2026

 I lived through the Oil Shocks of 1973 and 1979, have taught about them in university classes for many years, but only now am beginning to understand just how important they were in American History. You can read about them and their impact on the automobile in my 2nd edition of my Automobile American Life, I don't want to recount those events here but rather brainstorm (as my granddaughter likes to say) about what might happen in the near future, assuming that this present gas price spike and availability will end within the next six months.  
What might this period of enormous instability lead to?

1. Price for gasoline may drop some, but they will never return to the levels 0f 2024-6. In 1974, the price of gas did not return to 30 cents per gallon, er even close to it. In 1981, the price of gas did not return to the cost of gas in the summer of 1979. Gasoline will be more costly, more people will buy electric cars, but overall it will cost more to live, and income inequality will only increase. Couple that with AI adoption and efficiencies and uncertainty over the future of work can only be exacerbated.

2. American global power can only decline further.  In the early 1980s, Historian Louis Galambos authored the book America at Middle Age. Post-2026 one can readily write a book on America "in retirement" from its role as a Global leader. Just flip historian Stephen Ambrose's seminal work on post-1945 and the rise of American global leadership on its head.

3. Regional transitions in America will be as pronounced as the "southernization" of America in the 1970s and 80s. Where migration will go chasing after opportunity is only to be guessed now.

4. "Small is Beautiful" will be followed far more than what happened after the publication of a book by that title in the 1970s. Life will also revert to analog in revulsion of AI and the false promises of the digital.

5. The outrageous wealth of the present will no longer be a characteristic of the American scene. The fetish of a constant and never-ending economic growth will end. 

In sum, the next few years will be a wild ride.