Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will go their separate ways this winter (Image: Getty)
team principal James Vowles believes that ’ 2026 power unit represents an ‘exceptional job’ while predicting major differences between different engine providers in the new regulations.
This will come as bad news for , who took the gamble to leave , with whom he dominated the turbo-hybrid era between 2014 and 2020, for . , meanwhile, stands to benefit with the Brit having already enjoyed three foundational seasons bedding himself in with the Silver Arrows.
Discussing the new power unit and the 2026 regulations, Vowles told F1’s : “I think have done an exceptional job, which is why I was very happy to resign back up for an extension.
“And I think you’re going to see differences between power units that do not exist today. Today, pretty much all the power units are much of a muchness. I think that will change in 2026, and you’ll see a difference between the power units.”
Making the right move at the right time has been a cornerstone of Hamilton’s F1 career to date. He joined the sport and was thrust straight into a title-contending team and after noticing that the Woking-based squad were on the decline, he joined midfield runners just in time to enjoy the fruits of their power unit labour.
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A strong power unit would bolster George Russell’s World Championship hopes (Image: Getty)
However, if and its customer teams take a significant stride forward in 2026 with the aid of a supercharged power unit and are forced to watch on helplessly then Hamilton will no doubt be left with ‘what ifs’.
Hamilton’s loss would be Russell’s gain though. With his seven-time world champion colleague out of the picture, the Brit’s , who will take some time to learn the ropes in F1.
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aren’t the only team who would benefit from a strong power unit. Customer squad experienced a major boost from a similar advantage during the early stages of the turbo-hybrid era, even finishing third in the Constructors’ Championship in 2014 and 2015.
Vowles certainly believes in the ability of and to lead the team in their charge back up the pecking order. “I think from the perspective of not just driving the car, but leading the team forward, we’ll have the best line-up on the grid,” he said. That will help motivate and push us forward. There’s good developments ongoing, just as a continuation of ’24 to ’25.”