Mercedes bid farewell to first Turbo-hybrid era with Brixworth demo run

As the sport prepares for a major regulatory reset in 2026, Mercedes marked the end of the current generation on Tuesday 16 December with a symbolic farewell at its Brixworth facility. Team members from across the organisation gathered to reflect on twelve seasons in which Mercedes set the benchmark for power unit performance, both as a works operation and through its customer teams.

The occasion was marked with a demonstration run by Reserve Driver Vesti, who drove the two cars that bookended the era. The 2014 W05, which launched Mercedes’ period of sustained dominance, and the 2025 W16, the final car of the current regulations, were both run on site. It was the first time an F1 car has been driven at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, adding further significance to the moment.

Vesti completed short runs around the facility before entertaining staff with donuts in both cars, despite challenging conditions. Power Units from every season of the turbo hybrid era were also displayed, before colleagues came together for a team photograph to mark the milestone.

Hywel Thomas, Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, described the day as a rare opportunity to pause and acknowledge the scale of what has been achieved since 2014.

“It’s been an incredibly day here at Brixworth celebrating our success in the current turbo-hybrid era we’ve been racing since 2014,” Thomas said. “We rarely have the chance to pause and reflect on what has been achieved so to do so with so many of our teammates was truly special.

"The stats are remarkable, and everyone involved at Brixworth, Brackley, and our colleagues at PETRONAS in Malaysia and around the world, can be rightfully proud of their contribution.”

Thomas also highlighted the significance of running an F1 car at the site for the first time, underlining the importance of the moment within the organisation’s history.

“This is the first time we’ve ever run an F1 car here at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains and there couldn’t have been a more special time to do that,” he said.

While the event marked the end of an era, Thomas stressed that attention has already shifted firmly toward the future. Mercedes is now deep into preparations for the 2026 regulations, which will introduce a new Power Unit concept and a fundamentally different technical landscape.

“It was a brief pause today to mark the success of the past 12 years, but then right back to work as we focus on what we want to achieve ahead of 2026,” he explained. “It is such an exciting time as we stand on the verge of the next era in our sport. We are only a few weeks away from the new Power Unit taking to the circuit for that first track test in Barcelona and we look forward with anticipation to that moment in the way we did all the way back in 2014.”

For Vesti, the opportunity to drive both cars carried personal and symbolic weight, linking the beginning and the end of Mercedes’ turbo hybrid success story.

“It has been special getting to celebrate this remarkable era of success with our teammates here at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains,” Vesti said. “To be entrusted to drive the W05 and the W16, the two cars that bookended this era of success, was fantastic.”

Despite wet conditions and the limitations of a non purpose built circuit, Vesti embraced the chance to put on a show for the assembled staff.

“I thoroughly enjoyed putting on a show for everyone. I even managed to fit in some donuts in the 2014 car and I had a lot of fun,” he said. “It was pretty tricky given the rainy conditions and the fact that Brixworth is not a purpose-built racetrack, but I couldn’t think of a better way to say thank you and goodbye to this current generation of Power Units.”

As Formula 1 approaches its next technical revolution, Mercedes closes the turbo hybrid chapter with its legacy firmly established, while eyes now turn to Barcelona and the first on track steps toward 2026.