{"id":842624,"date":"2026-08-04T00:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T00:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/842624\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T00:30:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T00:30:16","slug":"mercedes-admits-mclaren-upgrade-closed-the-gap-in-hungary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/842624\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes admits McLaren upgrade closed the gap in Hungary"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

By Andrew Clarke<\/p>\n

Date posted: 4 August 2026<\/p>\n

Mercedes has conceded that the Hungarian Grand Prix was the first weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season in which it did not have the quickest car on race pace, after McLaren introduced a major upgrade package at the Hungaroring.<\/p>\n

The admission came from deputy team principal Bradley Lord, who oversees the Brackley squad\u2019s day-to-day management alongside team principal Toto Wolff, speaking on the team\u2019s own podcast, the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, ahead of the summer shutdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cBudapest was more challenging overall. It was probably the first time this season that we haven\u2019t looked like the quickest car on race pace,\u201d Lord said. \u201cWe were closely matched with McLaren in Miami and then, in Budapest, they brought a significant upgrade package and appeared to take a step forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite that, Mercedes goes into the break leading the constructors\u2019 championship by 72 points and heading the drivers\u2019 standings by 50, with eight wins from the opening 11 rounds.<\/p>\n

McLaren\u2019s upgrade and Norris\u2019s form both credited<\/p>\n

Simone Resta, the team\u2019s deputy technical director and a veteran of senior engineering roles who joined Mercedes almost two years ago, said McLaren\u2019s Hungary performance could not be attributed to the new parts alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe update package was certainly significant, and it must have contributed to their performance,\u201d Resta said. \u201cAt the same time, if you look at the gap between their two cars, there was clearly more to it than the upgrade alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resta suggested Lando Norris, who won the race for McLaren, had also found an unusually strong window with the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cBudapest may simply have been one of those weekends where he found himself in a particularly good place with the car, the setup and tyre management,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it was probably a combination of both factors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Points lost across Spa and Budapest<\/p>\n

Mercedes won at Spa through Kimi Antonelli, but George Russell was eliminated in the opening-lap incident at Turn 5 after a difficult qualifying session.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt took us some time to work through the data, telemetry and car configurations to understand what was holding him back in qualifying,\u201d Lord said. \u201cUltimately, that was the biggest contributor to the points we lost across those two weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s Hungary race was also compromised when a problem at the start triggered anti-stall, dropping him from sixth to last by the exit of Turn 1. He recovered to finish inside the top seven.<\/p>\n

Antonelli was sixth after the opening lap and climbed back to third, but Lord believes the Italian was denied a shot at second when a Virtual Safety Car period neutralised a tyre advantage of between 15 and 20 laps that the team had built through strategy.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing him chase down Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen would have been a brilliant spectacle,\u201d Lord said. \u201cIn the end, the VSC changed all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antonelli grid penalty came down to a reference lap<\/p>\n

Antonelli also took a three-place grid penalty in Hungary for failing to reduce speed sufficiently under yellow flags in qualifying. Lord said the 19-year-old had reacted, but not enough to satisfy the stewards.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe lifted and coasted into the corner, but the stewards ultimately judged that he hadn\u2019t lifted enough to satisfy the regulations,\u201d Lord said, noting Antonelli had come off the throttle around 15 metres earlier than normal.<\/p>\n

Resta said the comparison lap used to assess the infringement was not representative of Antonelli\u2019s pace in that sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat made the situation more difficult because even after lifting, he was effectively being compared against a slower-than-optimal sector,\u201d Resta said.<\/p>\n

The stewards accepted mitigating circumstances, which is why the penalty was three grid places rather than five.<\/p>\n

Four-team fight has developed as expected<\/p>\n

Resta said the emergence of a leading group of Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull under the new regulations had broadly matched the team\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the start of any new regulation cycle there are always questions about whether another team might emerge as a contender, but the competitive order has largely evolved as we expected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lord contrasted that with the last major rules reset in 2014, when Mercedes established a clear advantage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis time, among the four teams you\u2019ve mentioned, there are three different power units represented, including one completely new power unit,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s a testament to the competitiveness of Formula One at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anthony Davidson, the Mercedes development driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst who hosts the podcast and who raced hybrid sportscars before Formula 1 adopted the technology, said the Hungaroring suited the new cars because of the energy available around the lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s actually very energy-rich, which means you have battery deployment available almost everywhere,\u201d Davidson said. \u201cYou have that full horsepower available on corner exit and the car feels wild, but brilliant to drive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mercedes braces for a tougher second half<\/p>\n

Lord said the run of flyaway races after the shutdown would test the operation more than the opening half has.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe races begin to count down, the flyaway sequence becomes more intense, and the team spends longer periods away from the factory,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s about making sure every decision is measured and every step forward is properly planned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resta expects the championship picture to shift once racing resumes at Zandvoort.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistory tells us that the championship always changes after the summer shutdown,\u201d he said. \u201cThe pressure increases on the teams that are leading, but equally it increases on the teams trying to catch up. That\u2019s often where championships are ultimately won or lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/a>\"\"\/<\/a>
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\nFormula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de l\\’Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name “Formula One” refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.
\n
\nThe F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).
\n
\nThe history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\\’ championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.
\n
\nFormula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.
\n
\nFormula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.
\n
\nFormula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.
\n
\nThe following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:
\n1950-1959
\n1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) – Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo
\n
\n1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo
\n
\n1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) – Ferrari 500, Ferrari
\n
\n1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) – Ferrari 500, Ferrari
\n
\n1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Maserati 250F, Maserati \/ Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
\n
\n1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
\n
\n1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Ferrari D50, Ferrari
\n
\n1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Maserati 250F, Maserati
\n
\n1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) – Ferrari 246, Ferrari
\n
\n1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) – Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax
\n1960-1969
\n1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) – Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax
\n
\n1961: Phil Hill (United States) – Ferrari 156, Ferrari
\n
\n1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) – BRM P57, BRM
\n
\n1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) – Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax
\n
\n1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) – Ferrari 158, Ferrari
\n
\n1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) – Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax
\n
\n1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) – Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco
\n
\n1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) – Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco
\n
\n1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) – Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) – Matra MS80, Matra-Ford
\n1970-1979
\n1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) – Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) – Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford
\n
\n1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) – Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) – Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford
\n
\n1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) – McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
\n
\n1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) – Ferrari 312T, Ferrari
\n
\n1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) – McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
\n
\n1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) – Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari
\n
\n1978: Mario Andretti (United States) – Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) – Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari
\n1980-1989
\n1980: Alan Jones (Australia) – Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford
\n
\n1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) – Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford
\n
\n1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) – Williams FW08, Williams-Ford
\n
\n1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) – Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW
\n
\n1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) – McLaren MP4\/2, McLaren-TAG
\n
\n1985: Alain Prost (France) – McLaren MP4\/2B, McLaren-TAG
\n
\n1986: Alain Prost (France) – McLaren MP4\/2C, McLaren-TAG
\n
\n1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) – Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda
\n
\n1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) – McLaren MP4\/4, McLaren-Honda
\n
\n1989: Alain Prost (France) – McLaren MP4\/5, McLaren-Honda
\n1990-1999
\n1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) – McLaren MP4\/5B, McLaren-Honda
\n
\n1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) – McLaren MP4\/6, McLaren-Honda
\n
\n1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) – Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1993: Alain Prost (France) – Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford
\n
\n1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault
\n
\n1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) – Williams FW18, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) – Williams FW19, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1998: Mika H\u00e4kkinen (Finland) – McLaren MP4\/13, McLaren-Mercedes
\n
\n1999: Mika H\u00e4kkinen (Finland) – McLaren MP4\/14, McLaren-Mercedes
\n2000-2009
\n2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari
\n
\n2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2001, Ferrari
\n
\n2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2002, Ferrari
\n
\n2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari
\n
\n2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2004, Ferrari
\n
\n2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Renault R25, Renault
\n
\n2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Renault R26, Renault
\n
\n2007: Kimi R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen (Finland) – Ferrari F2007, Ferrari
\n
\n2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes
\n
\n2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) – Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes
\n2010-2020
\n2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes
\n
\n2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes
\n
\n2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) – Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes
\n
\n2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n
\n2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n
\n2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n
\n2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n2021-
\n2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB16B, Honda
\n
\n2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
\n
\n2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
\n
\n2024: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB20, Red Bull Power Trains Honda’,
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\n
\nThe F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).
\n
\nThe history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\\’ championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.
\n
\nFormula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.
\n
\nFormula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.
\n
\nFormula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.
\n
\nThe following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:
\n1950-1959
\n1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) – Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo
\n
\n1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo
\n
\n1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) – Ferrari 500, Ferrari
\n
\n1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) – Ferrari 500, Ferrari
\n
\n1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Maserati 250F, Maserati \/ Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
\n
\n1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
\n
\n1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Ferrari D50, Ferrari
\n
\n1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) – Maserati 250F, Maserati
\n
\n1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) – Ferrari 246, Ferrari
\n
\n1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) – Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax
\n1960-1969
\n1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) – Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax
\n
\n1961: Phil Hill (United States) – Ferrari 156, Ferrari
\n
\n1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) – BRM P57, BRM
\n
\n1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) – Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax
\n
\n1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) – Ferrari 158, Ferrari
\n
\n1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) – Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax
\n
\n1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) – Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco
\n
\n1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) – Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco
\n
\n1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) – Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) – Matra MS80, Matra-Ford
\n1970-1979
\n1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) – Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) – Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford
\n
\n1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) – Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) – Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford
\n
\n1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) – McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
\n
\n1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) – Ferrari 312T, Ferrari
\n
\n1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) – McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
\n
\n1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) – Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari
\n
\n1978: Mario Andretti (United States) – Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford
\n
\n1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) – Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari
\n1980-1989
\n1980: Alan Jones (Australia) – Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford
\n
\n1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) – Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford
\n
\n1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) – Williams FW08, Williams-Ford
\n
\n1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) – Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW
\n
\n1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) – McLaren MP4\/2, McLaren-TAG
\n
\n1985: Alain Prost (France) – McLaren MP4\/2B, McLaren-TAG
\n
\n1986: Alain Prost (France) – McLaren MP4\/2C, McLaren-TAG
\n
\n1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) – Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda
\n
\n1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) – McLaren MP4\/4, McLaren-Honda
\n
\n1989: Alain Prost (France) – McLaren MP4\/5, McLaren-Honda
\n1990-1999
\n1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) – McLaren MP4\/5B, McLaren-Honda
\n
\n1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) – McLaren MP4\/6, McLaren-Honda
\n
\n1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) – Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1993: Alain Prost (France) – Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford
\n
\n1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault
\n
\n1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) – Williams FW18, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) – Williams FW19, Williams-Renault
\n
\n1998: Mika H\u00e4kkinen (Finland) – McLaren MP4\/13, McLaren-Mercedes
\n
\n1999: Mika H\u00e4kkinen (Finland) – McLaren MP4\/14, McLaren-Mercedes
\n2000-2009
\n2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari
\n
\n2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2001, Ferrari
\n
\n2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2002, Ferrari
\n
\n2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari
\n
\n2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) – Ferrari F2004, Ferrari
\n
\n2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Renault R25, Renault
\n
\n2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) – Renault R26, Renault
\n
\n2007: Kimi R\u00e4ikk\u00f6nen (Finland) – Ferrari F2007, Ferrari
\n
\n2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes
\n
\n2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) – Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes
\n2010-2020
\n2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) – Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault
\n
\n2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes
\n
\n2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes
\n
\n2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) – Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes
\n
\n2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n
\n2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n
\n2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n
\n2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) – Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes
\n2021-
\n2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB16B, Honda
\n
\n2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
\n
\n2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
\n
\n2024: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) \u2013 Red Bull RB20, Red Bull Power Trains Honda’,
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