Mercedes W16

{{Infobox racing car

| Name = Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance

| Image_size = 270px

| category = Formula One

| Designer = {{ubl

| James Allison {{small|(Technical Director)}}

| Simone Resta {{small|(Deputy Technical Director)}}

| John Owen {{small|(Car Design Director)}}

| Jarrod Murphy {{small|(Aerodynamics Director)}}

| David Nelson {{small|(Performance Director)}}

| Giacomo Tortora {{small|(Engineering Director)}}

| Ashley Way {{small|(Chief Engineer)}}

| Emiliano Giangiulio {{small|(Head of Vehicle Performance)}}

| Hywel Thomas {{small|(Lead Power Unit Designer)}}

}}

| Predecessor = Mercedes W15

| Front suspension = Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod-activated springs and dampers

| Rear suspension = Carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod-activated springs and dampers

| Length = over {{convert|5000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}

| Weight = 800 kg (including driver, excluding fuel)

| Width = {{convert|2000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}

| Height = {{convert|950|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}

| engine name = Mercedes-AMG F1 M16 E Performance

{{convert|1.6|L|cuin|0|abbr=on}} direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout

| Electric motor = Motor Generator Unit Kinetic (MGU-K) and thermal energy recovery systems

| Transmission type = 8-speed hydraulic actuated semi automatic sequential gearbox, + 1 reverse gear

| Fuel = Petronas Primax

| lubricants = Petronas Tutela

| Tyres = {{ubl|Pirelli P Zero (Dry/Slick)|Pirelli Cinturato (Wet/Treaded)}} with

BBS forged magnesium wheels: 18"

| Team = Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team

| Drivers = {{ubl|12. {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea Kimi Antonelli|63. {{flagicon|GBR}} George Russell}}

| Debut = 2025 Australian Grand Prix

| First_win =

| Last_win =

| Last_event =

| Races = {{sum|{{F1cstat|MRC|entries}}|-317}}

| Wins = {{sum|{{F1cstat|MRC|wins}}|-129}}

| Podiums = {{sum|{{F1cstat|MRC|podiums}}|-298}}

| Poles = {{sum|{{F1cstat|MRC|poles}}|-141}}

| Fastest laps = {{sum|{{F1cstat|MRC|fastestlaps}}|-109}}

| image = 2025 Japan GP - Mercedes - Kimi Antonelli - FP2.jpg

| caption = Andrea Kimi Antonelli driving the W16 during the Japanese Grand Prix

}}

The Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance, commonly known as the Mercedes W16, is a Formula One racing car designed and built by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team currently competing in the 2025 Formula One World Championship.{{Cite web |title=Mercedes-AMG F1: W16 Launch Date Confirmed |url=https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/w16-launch-date-confirmed |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team |language=en-US}} It is being driven by George Russell, who is in his fourth consecutive season with the team, partnering rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaces seven-time World Drivers' Champion Lewis Hamilton, who departed for Ferrari following the end of the 2024 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/41067993/why-andrea-kimi-antonelli-replacing-lewis-hamilton-mercedes|title=Why Andrea Kimi Antonelli is replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes|date=31 August 2024|access-date=17 March 2025|work=ESPN|first=Laurence|last=Edmondson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924002750/https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/41067993/why-andrea-kimi-antonelli-replacing-lewis-hamilton-mercedes|archive-date=24 September 2024|url-status=live}} As such, this is the first Mercedes F1 car since the F1 W03, from the 2012 season, not to be driven by Hamilton. It has taken one sprint pole position.

Background

File:2025 Japan GP - Mercedes - W16 - Thursday.jpg and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.|alt=W16 being assembled in the pit building prior to the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix]]

{{Further information|2025 Formula One World Championship#Technical regulations}}

The W16 is the successor to the W15 from the previous year that took four victories, namely in Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, and Las Vegas. Despite taking four wins the previous season, the W15 was criticised by driver George Russell who labeled it as "the most inconsistent" Mercedes car the team has ever had.{{Cite news|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-car-the-most-inconsistent-the-team-has-ever-had-says-russell/10668845/|title=Mercedes car the "most inconsistent" the team has ever had, says Russell|date=1 November 2024|access-date=17 March 2025|work=Motorsport.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125175519/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-car-the-most-inconsistent-the-team-has-ever-had-says-russell/10668845/|archive-date=25 January 2025|url-status=live|first=Jonathan|last=Noble}} The team finished the season in fourth in the World Constructors' Championship, trailing behind Red Bull by 121 points but 374 points ahead of Aston Martin.{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Becky |date=21 December 2024 |title=End of year report: Mercedes – An inconsistent season and a bittersweet farewell for Hamilton |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/end-of-year-report-mercedes-an-inconsistent-season-and-a-bittersweet.5iv5VrU8CqkYIq1KfMqrk6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215140659/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/end-of-year-report-mercedes-an-inconsistent-season-and-a-bittersweet.5iv5VrU8CqkYIq1KfMqrk6 |archive-date=15 February 2025 |access-date=17 March 2025 |work=Formula 1}}

=Initial design=

Mercedes has traditionally struggled during the ground-effect era from the 2022 season starting with the W13 with its "no sidepod" philosophy. With the W14, the car's suspension design hindered the team's ability to maximize the effectiveness of its underbody aerodynamics. To compensate, the team had to raise the car's ride height throughout the season, which put them at a disadvantage compared to their competitors. The W16 appeared to solve the suspension problems but it produced a knock-on effect of inducing inconsistent balance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/how-mercedes-aims-to-avoid-the-traps-it-has-fallen-into-with-recent-f1-car-designs/10696782/|title=How Mercedes aims to avoid the "traps" it has fallen into with recent F1 car designs|date=18 February 2025|access-date=22 March 2025|work=Autosport|first=Jake|last=Boxall-Legge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306104350/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/how-mercedes-aims-to-avoid-the-traps-it-has-fallen-into-with-recent-f1-car-designs/10696782/|archive-date=6 March 2025|url-status=live}}

Technical Director James Allison has been "very involved" in the design of the W16.{{Cite news|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1063931/1/james-allison-very-involved-new-mercedes-w16-it-hits-track-bahrain|title=James Allison “very involved” in new Mercedes W16 as it hits the track in Bahrain|date=26 February 2025|access-date=22 March 2025|work=Crash.net|first=Connor|last=McDonagh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226074252/https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1063931/1/james-allison-very-involved-new-mercedes-w16-it-hits-track-bahrain|archive-date=26 February 2025|url-status=live}}

Complete Formula One results

{{hidden

| style = width: 25%;

| headerstyle = background: #ccccff; font-size: 110%;

| contentstyle = text-align: center; color: green;

| header = Key

| content = {{F1 driver results legend 8}}

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
rowspan="2" \| Year ! rowspan="2" \| Entrant ! rowspan="2" \| Power unit ! rowspan="2" \| Tyres ! rowspan="2" \| Driver name ! colspan="24" \| Grands Prix ! rowspan="2" \| Points ! rowspan="2" \| {{abbr\|WCC pos.\|World Constructors' Championship position}}
AUS !CHN !JPN !BHR !SAU !MIA !EMI !MON !ESP !CAN !AUT !GBR !BEL !HUN !NED !ITA !AZE !SIN !USA !MXC !SAP !LVG !QAT !ABU
rowspan="2" \| {{F1\|2025}} \| rowspan="2" \| Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team \| rowspan="2" \| {{nowrap\|Mercedes-AMG}} {{nowrap\|F1 M16 E Performance}} {{nowrap\|1.6 V6 t}} \| rowspan="2" \| {{Pirelli}} \|align=left\|{{nowrap\|{{flagicon\|GBR}} George Russell}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|AUS}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|CHN}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|JPN}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|BHR}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|SAU}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|MIA}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|EMI}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|MON}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|ESP}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|CAN}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|AUT}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|GBR}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|BEL}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|HUN}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|NED}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|ITA}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|AZE}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|SIN}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|USA}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|MXC}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|SAP}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|LVG}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|QAT}} \|{{F1R2025\|RUS\|ABU}} !rowspan="2" {{F1cstat\|MRC\|seasonpoints}}* !rowspan="2" {{F1cstat\|MRC\|seasonposition}}*
align=left\|{{nowrap\|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Andrea Kimi Antonelli}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|AUS}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|CHN}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|JPN}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|BHR}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|SAU}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|MIA}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|EMI}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|MON}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|ESP}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|CAN}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|AUT}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|GBR}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|BEL}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|HUN}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|NED}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|ITA}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|AZE}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|SIN}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|USA}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|MXC}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|SAP}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|LVG}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|QAT}} \|{{F1R2025\|ANT\|ABU}}
colspan="31" \| Source:

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Entrant

! rowspan="2" | Power unit

! rowspan="2" | Tyres

! rowspan="2" | Driver name

! colspan="24" | Grands Prix

! rowspan="2" | Points

! rowspan="2" | {{abbr|WCC pos.|World Constructors' Championship position}}

AUS

!CHN

!JPN