Mercedes-Benz F1 Racing -- A look Back at the Season So Far, August 26, 2026

 

Kimi Antonelli, Hywel Thomas, George Russell, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

The new era of regulations has begun, marked by Kimi Antonelli (ITA) and George Russell (GBR) celebrating by popping champagne corks on the podium in Melbourne on 8 March. Six months later, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is leading both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.

“If someone had offered us this position at the start of the season, I would have accepted it immediately. However, given how competitive our car was this year, I think we should have scored more points. Nevertheless, we’re looking forward to the second half of the season and the chance to make up for some of those missed opportunities.”
James Allison, Technical Director, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

Following George’s victory at the season opener in Australia, him and his team-mate secured another seven Grand Prix wins across the first eleven races of the season. After the summer break, the team achieved their second-best points total of the season so far at Zandvoort, marking the start of the second half of the season. However, previous years have shown that even the largest lead can disappear quickly. 

“If we can keep improving the car while ensuring clean execution and reliability, we will put ourselves in the strongest possible position for the final push for the championship.”
James Allison, Technical Director, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

Appearance of the week: Debut for the new Official FIA F1 Safety Car at Zandvoort
Five weeks after its unveiling as the new Official FIA F1 Safety Car in Hungary, the Mercedes-AMG GT63 PRO 4MATIC+ made its debut at the Dutch Grand Prix. In Hungary, the Safety Car had not yet been deployed onto the track. In Zandvoort, the moment finally arrived: Bernd Mayländer (GER) led the field through the formation lap due to the track still being slippery at the start. Following the early race interruption, the car completed a further lap at Circuit Zandvoort to safely return the 21 remaining cars to their starting positions. 

 

 

1952 Mercedes-Benz 170 V customer service vehicle (W 136)

 

1952 Mercedes-Benz 170 V panel van with “Sindelfingen body”, formerly a service vehicle for Mercedes-Benz Customer Service in Switzerland.

Service is blue: The paintwork on this Mercedes-Benz 170 V panel van still catches the eye today. In the 1950s, people knew straight away: this colour stood for Mercedes-Benz service. That’s because, back then, the brand’s customer service vehicles were painted in “Mercedes blue”. This stylish compact van was put into service in Switzerland in 1952. Icons such as the 1955 “Blue Wonder” racing car transporter also featured this color. 

Sheet metal, wood, carpet: Back then, the customer service vehicle was usually loaded up with tools and spare parts when on the road. The van body with a left-hand-opening rear-end door offered plenty of space for this: a visible wooden framework supported the elegantly shaped sheet metal cladding. Inside, the wooden arches were connected on each side with five slats, which ran right up to the cab wall. Additional equipment could be stowed under the carpeted load compartment floor. That’s also where the spare wheel for the 170 V was stowed. 

Sindelfingen elegance: There was a silver-colored badge on the driver’s door, directly above the wing, which was painted light grey. It had “Sindelfinger Karosserie. Daimler-Benz A.G.” (Sindelfingen body. Daimler-Benz A.G.) written on it and the Mercedes star gleaming in the center. The badge paid tribute to the brand’s tradition of high-quality factory-built bodies dating back to the 1930s. 

Comfort in action: The customer service engineers sat in the cab on a bench seat upholstered in light grey imitation leather. The transmission tunnel was also trimmed in imitation leather. The pedals were surrounded by carefully fitted mats made of hard-wearing fabric, which were cut to fit the footwell exactly. The light grey painted dashboard featured the speedometer with odometer in the center in front of the driver, with an instrument cluster for the fuel gauge and oil pressure to the left of it, and the clock to the right. The buttons on the various controls were finished in ivory-colored plastic. The black horn ring inside the black steering wheel was also used to operate the turn signal indicators: classic direction indicators with a flashing function were fitted at the front, in front of the doors, while the rear featured more modern turn signal lights. 

Eyewitnesses to post-war reconstruction: This elegant 170 V panel van was the direct descendant of automobiles that marked the resumption of series production at Mercedes-Benz after the Second World War, amidst the difficult conditions of post-war reconstruction. It all began in May 1946 with some very simple vehicles, which were, however, urgently needed at the time: pickups, panel vans and ambulances, all based on the 170 V. The first saloon cars began to appear again from 1947 onwards. The 170 V (W 136), launched in 1936, was one of the most significant vehicles for Mercedes-Benz – economically, technically and strategically – in the entire pre-war period, and was therefore ideally suited for the resumption of production. 

Mercedes-Benz 170 D panel van with “Sindelfingen body”. Front cover of the 1952 brochure featuring an illustration by Hans Liska.

Efficient with diesel: The general situation began to improve gradually from 1948 onwards, particularly as a result of the currency reform in the Federal Republic of Germany and the launch of the Marshall Plan by the United States of America. This was also reflected in Mercedes-Benz’s range of light commercial vehicles. The efficient 170 D was added to the W 136 range in 1949. It was also available ex factory as a panel van and as a chassis for bodies made by independent body manufacturers. With its 29 kW (40 hp) 1.7-litre OM 636 diesel engine, it was the ideal solution for the needs of many tradesmen and craftsmen during the era of the West German “economic miracle”, which began in the early 1950s. 

Small-batch production with petrol engine: Both the 170 V and the 170 D were produced in 1952 as panel vans with Sindelfingen bodies. More than 500 units of the diesel version were produced. By contrast, only 35 units of the more powerful and dynamic petrol-engined version (33 kW/45 hp at 3,600 rpm, top speed 116 km/h) were built. This means that the 170 V, featured in the new special exhibition “130 Years of Commercial Vehicles”, is not only a testament to the 1950s, but also an extremely rare find. In the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz used various models from the W 136 model series as customer service vehicles.

Moka -- clips of a light brown 1972 Mercedes 350 SL R 107 on film -- 2017 -- MOKA

Moka (2016) is a Franco-Swiss psychological drama and thriller directed by Frédéric Mermoud. It is adapted from the 2006 novel of the same name by Tatiana de Rosnay (author of Sarah's Key). Set against the scenic backdrop of Lake Geneva (spanning Lausanne, Switzerland, and Évian, France), the film explores themes of grief, revenge, guilt, and moral reconciliation.

At the heart of this film is a moka brown 1972 450 SL Mercedes-Benz. It is the vehicle that killed the son of the film's main character. An object of undeniable beauty, it is owned by a woman cosmetologist whose daughter is troubled and whose partner is unreliable and shady. In 2016, the car looks far better than the private lives of people who drive it. What you see in the car is not a reflection of reality.

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Plot Synopsis

Following the tragic hit-and-run death of her teenage son in Lausanne, Diane Kramer is consumed by grief. Frustrated by the police's slow progress after six months, she takes matters into her own hands. A private investigator provides her with a crucial clue: a witness saw a blonde woman driving an old, vintage mocha-colored ("moka") Mercedes coupe.

Diane checks herself out of a psychiatric care facility, purchases an illegal handgun, and tracks the car across Lake Geneva to the resort town of Évian-les-Bains in France. Using the pseudonym "Hélène," she locates the vehicle's owner, Marlène, a blonde beauty salon proprietor.

To get close to Marlène, Diane pretends to be a prospective buyer interested in purchasing the classic Mercedes. As she integrates herself into Marlène's life, the simple desire for violent retribution gives way to a complex web of relationships. Diane meets Marlène's daughter, Élodie, and Élodie’s volatile boyfriend, Vincent.

As Diane investigates further, she uncovers the truth of the incident: while Marlène owned the car and was present during the accident, it was actually Vincent who was driving during the hit-and-run. Rather than descending into a violent Hollywood-style climax, the narrative turns inward, forcing Diane to confront the realities of loss, accountability, and forgiveness.

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Key Characters

• Diane Kramer (Emmanuelle Devos): A devastated mother driven by an unwavering obsession to find the person responsible for her son's death. Her grief borders on cold detachment as she assumes a false identity to seek closure.
• Marlène Mangin (Nathalie Baye): A weary, glamorous salon owner who owns the mocha Mercedes. Outwardly self-assured yet harboring secrets, she becomes both an adversary and a figure of strange empathy for Diane.
• Élodie (Diane Rouxel): Marlène’s vulnerable daughter, who is caught in an abusive relationship and unaware of the full scope of her mother's actions.
• Vincent (Olivier Chantreau): Élodie’s aggressive boyfriend, a local petty criminal who was behind the wheel on the night of the fatal accident.

Film Criticism and Reception

Moka received generally positive reviews from critics, particularly for its understated direction and central performances.

• Chabrolian Atmosphere: Critics frequently compared Mermoud's direction to the psychological thrillers of Claude Chabrol (notably his 1969 film This Man Must Die) and the literary style of Patricia Highsmith. Reviewers noted how the serene, glacial beauty of Lake Geneva served as a stark contrast to the quiet tension of the plot.
• Lead Performances: The chemistry and performance pairing of French cinema veterans Emmanuelle Devos and Nathalie Baye were universally praised. The New York Times awarded the film a "Critic's Pick," highlighting both actresses for doing career-high work in their slow-burn cat-and-mouse dynamic.
• Subversion of Revenge Tropes: Rather than relying on traditional action or sensationalized violence, critical analysis emphasized the film’s restraint. Critics appreciated that Moka prioritizes character study and emotional resolution over standard thriller twists.
• Accolades: The film won the Variety Piazza Grande Award at the 2016 Locarno International Film Festival.

 

Oil change on Mercedes 380 SL -- Sometimes it is harder than you think, if you get in your own way!

Even before I purchased my 1982 Mercedes 380 SL in 2014, I had changed oil many, many times on my cars. And indeed, one of the first things I did after getting the car home was change fluids, including oil. My first time on this car must of been not eventful, as I do not remember anything about doing it. However, I must have noticed the rather antiquated oil filter system that was on this car.  Antiquated and over engineered. Much later -- perhaps in 2024 -- I ran into big trouble doing an oil change. 

I usually get my Mann filter from Rock auto and it comes with a rubber sealing gasket, a drain plug copper gasket, and two small gaskets to use on the center bolt. Often the filters come two ended, so make sure that the larger diameter hole is the one you use to push up to the filter assembly on the block

Anyway, on one fateful day I drained the oil, removed the filter with a 17 mm socket, and then put the whole thing back together. I suffer from brain fog (I guess that is what it is) in old age, and promptly cross-threaded the bolt into a metal connector that screws into the block housing. I didn't quite realize what I had done, filled up the car with 9 quarts of oil, and started the car up.

9 quarters gushed on to the driveway - I major problem for weeks, and I set off a search for both chemicals to get the oil off the concreate and a new connector. The connector was not easy to find. Not on Ebay. Not on online parts suppliers.  Finally, I visited Gina at Bob Ross Mercedes and she found one for about $30, as I recall.

The problem was getting the old adapter -- the thing that the long bolt screws in to. First, I needed a 32mm 12 point socket.  With a ratchet and even small breaker bar, the adapter did not move! So then my friend Cliff got under the car pushed the socket at short breaker bar up to ensure a good fit, and I used the handle off my hydraulic jack to try to turn it.  Only after I leaned on it did it move, with a loud "crack!"  I thought I broke to socket, but actually we succeeded in getting the adapter to move. The rest was routine. But I did use tide, other detergents, and chemicals I no longer recall cleaning off the driveway that for a time was both an embarrassment and testimony to folly. 

Dutch Grand Prix Results 2026 -- Double Podium Finish for Mercedes-Benz

 

Double Podium in Dramatic Final Dutch Grand Prix

• Kimi Antonelli finished second with George Russell third in Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix. 
• In a dramatic 72 lap race, Kimi and George defended well throughout but ultimately didn’t have the pace in the car to fight for victory.
• Nevertheless, they both maintained good track position throughout the afternoon, following an opening lap red flag; Kimi leading for most of the race and George holding P3. 
• The team opted to stop both drivers before they could be undercut by rivals behind at their first two stops, switching to the Hard compound both times after starting on the Medium tire.
• Kimi had to relinquish the lead when the hard-charging McLaren of Lando Norris came past on fresher tires on lap 54, before taking advantage of a Virtual Safety Car on lap 56 to switch to the Soft compound.
• That gave the team the best possible chance of protecting P2 from the Ferraris, behind who were showing strong pace, whilst maximizing our points scoring.
• So it proved, as George ceded position back to Kimi and then put together a stellar defense in the closing stages to secure P3 and a double podium by keeping the Ferraris at bay.
• That is the team’s fourth double podium of the season, and first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
• It also helps extend the team’s advantage in the Constructors’ Championship to 87 points. 

Kimi Antonelli

I am disappointed to have led so many laps today and not won. Unfortunately, the pace wasn’t quite there, and that’s a shame. P2 was ultimately the maximum we could have done, though, given that, so we must be happy coming away with that and a double podium secured. It is a great result for the team with George doing a brilliant job to keep the Ferraris behind and take P3.

We made two good starts and gained places at both. That gave us belief we could fight for victory, but I didn’t have the feeling with the car on the second set of Hard tyres and that was when Lando (Norris) was able to get past. I was a little nervous in the closing stages after we pitted under the Virtual Safety Car, but it turned out well. We were able to have both cars finish ahead of the Ferraris and extend our lead in the Constructors’ Championship, which is a good feeling leaving Zandvoort. 
 
George Russell

We did our best today, and it was clear that we were going to have a tough time of it defending from Lando (Norris) and the Ferraris, who were incredibly fast. The field is even more competitive than at any point during the season; that said, the pace of both McLaren and Ferrari has surprised us. To come away with a Sprint victory and a P3 is a solid return, therefore, on what has been a challenging weekend from a pace perspective. 

My race wasn’t the smoothest. I lost a couple of positions early on, but was able to fight my way back to P3. That became P2 when Kimi pitted under the Virtual Safety Car, but ultimately, Kimi was ahead of me before that, so the position was his. It was clear that we couldn’t cost ourselves any time fighting, as we needed to protect from the Ferraris behind, too. If we had, we would have likely lost a lot of time, and I would have lost the podium. In the end, we were able to maximise the result for the team, and that’s positive.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

We ultimately didn’t have the pace to fight for victory today. Finishing second and third was very much damage limitation therefore, but both the drivers and the team did a good job to maximize our result. 

We were able to gain track position early on, but it became clear that it would be a tall order to hold onto that, given the pace of our rivals. Once Norris had passed Kimi, we knew our race was about finishing ahead of the Ferraris. The Virtual Safety Car gave Kimi the chance to stop and protect from them behind, using fresher tires and on the Soft compound rather than the Hard. We were then able to invert the cars on track, and George then did a brilliant job to keep both Lewis (Hamilton) and Charles (Leclerc) behind. We were able to avoid losing time fighting together and have discussed similar situations like this all year. If it had been the other way around, we would have made the same decision. 

We leave Zandvoort knowing that we need to improve the pace of the car. We have further developments to come, but over the past two weekends, we haven’t had the fastest car. It is a tight championship fight, but we are happy to leave here having extended our advantage in the Constructors.  

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

That was a busy afternoon, where we weren't quick enough to fight for victory, but raced well to maximize our points scoring. The drivers did a good job of getting the absolute most out of what we had, and a double podium with P2 and P3 is a solid result. 

The conditions at the start were tricky, but the track was too dry to go for anything other than a slick tire. George struggled for grip on the dirty side of the grid, which allowed Kimi to get ahead before the race was red flagged. On the restart, Kimi made another strong start, held the inside line and took the lead from Norris. He was able to build enough of a lead to protect from Norris undercutting him, but it was clear the McLaren had superior pace, and we would need to box ahead of him to protect the position.

George was able to take P3 from Piastri at his first stop but faced a similar situation with the faster Ferraris behind. After our second stops, both drivers were looking to hold off the cars behind, but Norris ultimately made his way past Kimi before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed. That ultimately worked well for Kimi, as once both Ferraris stopped, we were able to get him onto the Soft tire and back out ahead of them, although he gave up track position to George. Once Kimi caught up, we decided to invert the cars, as Kimi had the pace to get through, but had they raced, it would have put both drivers at greater risk to the Ferraris. 

George did an amazing job to defend on those final laps. It was a very difficult situation to handle, but ultimately staying out gave George his only shot at making the podium. He did brilliantly to achieve that and secure the strongest result for the team we could have got today. Whilst it's been a difficult weekend, we still managed our second highest point score of the season to date and have extended the lead in both championships.

The Dreaded Single Row Timing Chain on the 1981-1983 Mercedes-Benz 380 sl

 Even the very best Mercedes mechanic can be flummoxed and fooled by this issue! 

As mentioned in the previous post, when I bought my Mercedes 380 sl via Ebay in 2014 I was oblivious to the fact that 1981-1983 SLs in the American market came with single chain timing chains. The cars were later taken care of by Mercedes, but a number were never repaired and are still out there waiting for an unsuspecting buyer. And to replace with a double chain now is costly -- minimally $3 thousand dollars (Probably 5k now). 

That makes my buy of a very clean body California/Arizona car in jeopardy of turning into a boondoggle! 

You can quickly check whether you have a single or double chain easily by looking through the space under the valve cover after taking out the oil filler cap. And by God, I was saved again from a financial decision by a faithful God.

The single row chain was just not strong enough for any Mercedes V-8, even the M116. Failure resulted in bent valves damaged valve train and in sum catastrophic engine damage. Warning signs (Justin case you have one) include rattling chain noise on start-up. (Not to be confused with a disintegrating air pump clutch). The chain can fail without warning.

And if you want to know how to replace a timing chain, see this:

Within a week after I got the car home, I took it to Foreign Excahnge in Moraine and had an experienced mechanic replace my double chain. The car had 99K miles on it, and it was reported that my replaced double chain had stretched.  Now my new Mercedes should be good for another 100k.