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Why Mercedes should be worried about F1 2027
· Confirmed
In Short: Mercedes faces challenges as Red Bull's performance edges ahead in Formula 1.
Mercedes narrowly beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the team's hopes for a significant performance boost at the next race in Malaysia remain unfulfilled. George Russell expressed optimism, saying, 'We're hoping to make a bigger step to the rest of the field,' but the team's aerodynamics overhaul has not yet delivered the expected results.
Mercedes had high expectations for its mid-season package during the recent triple-header of races. However, the team's performance in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has raised concerns about the end of the season and the start of the next one. The team's development difficulties over the past four years have drawn uncomfortable parallels, suggesting that Red Bull has become the dominant force in Formula 1.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell faced mixed results in practice sessions. Antonelli ended the first hour of practice in seventh place, leading the team to revert to their old specification of front wing for the evening Sprint qualifying session. Meanwhile, George Russell's performance was noted, with Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord pointing out that Russell finished second last year despite being unwell.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Malaysia race and both the sprint and grand prix in Singapore, while Ferrari also outperformed Mercedes in those events. This trend has put additional pressure on Mercedes to improve their performance, especially as the season progresses.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the gap between their performance and expectations. 'Does it have the performance that we were hoping the upgrade would bring? I don't think so yet, but it was a step in the right direction,' he said. Despite this, Wolff insisted that the gap was not 'representative' because the team managed more proper push laps than its rivals and saw improving lap times.
Mercedes' struggles are not limited to the track. The team's reliability issues in Azerbaijan have also raised concerns. The team's performance in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend has begun with early-2026 form, both in pace and reliability, indicating that the team still has work to do to catch up with Red Bull.
Mercedes' new electric GLB model offers an optional third row, unlike the five-seat BMW iX1 and iX3. The GLB is nearly as long as the iX3, despite theoretically competing with the iX1, measuring 4732 millimeters (186.3 inches) long. The GLB 250+ with EQ Technology starts at €59,048, while the GLB 350 4Matic starts at €62,178.
The GLB's range is impressive, with the standard version rated at up to 392 miles (631 kilometers) on the WLTP cycle, and the more powerful version managing 382 miles (614 km). Ultra-fast charging at up to 320 kW allows the GLB to add 162 miles (260 km) of range in just 10 minutes, though the iX3 can charge at up to 400 kW and recover 231 miles (372 kilometers) in the same time.
What this adds
Mercedes' performance issues in Formula 1 are overshadowing the launch of their new electric GLB model, which offers an optional third row and impressive range capabilities.
What's confirmed
- Mercedes narrowly beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but the team's hopes for a significant performance boost at the next race in Malaysia remain unfulfilled. George Russell expressed optimism, saying, 'We're hoping to make a bigger step to the rest of the field,' but the team's aerodynamics overhaul has not yet delivered the expected results.
- Mercedes had high expectations for its mid-season package during the recent triple-header of races. However, the team's performance in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has raised concerns about the end of the season and the start of the next one. The team's development difficulties over the past four years have drawn uncomfortable parallels, suggesting that Red Bull has become the dominant force in Formula 1.
- Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell faced mixed results in practice sessions. Antonelli ended the first hour of practice in seventh place, leading the team to revert to their old specification of front wing for the evening Sprint qualifying session. Meanwhile, George Russell's performance was noted, with Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord pointing out that Russell finished second last year despite being unwell.
- Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Malaysia race and both the sprint and grand prix in Singapore, while Ferrari also outperformed Mercedes in those events. This trend has put additional pressure on Mercedes to improve their performance, especially as the season progresses.
- Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the gap between their performance and expectations. 'Does it have the performance that we were hoping the upgrade would bring? I don't think so yet, but it was a step in the right direction,' he said. Despite this, Wolff insisted that the gap was not 'representative' because the team managed more proper push laps than its rivals and saw improving lap times.
- Mercedes' struggles are not limited to the track. The team's reliability issues in Azerbaijan have also raised concerns. The team's performance in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend has begun with early-2026 form, both in pace and reliability, indicating that the team still has work to do to catch up with Red Bull.
- Mercedes' new electric GLB model offers an optional third row, unlike the five-seat BMW iX1 and iX3. The GLB is nearly as long as the iX3, despite theoretically competing with the iX1, measuring 4732 millimeters (186.3 inches) long. The GLB 250+ with EQ Technology starts at €59,048, while the GLB 350 4Matic starts at €62,178.
- The GLB's range is impressive, with the standard version rated at up to 392 miles (631 kilometers) on the WLTP cycle, and the more powerful version managing 382 miles (614 km). Ultra-fast charging at up to 320 kW allows the GLB to add 162 miles (260 km) of range in just 10 minutes, though the iX3 can charge at up to 400 kW and recover 231 miles (372 kilometers) in the same time.
What's still developing
- It also means there's a lot more riding on the next race in the United States, where Antonelli has his first chance to wrap up the drivers' championship, and where Mercedes will get a much clearer read on how well it understands and can actually optimise its upgraded car.
- And even after a second weekend running the upgraded package on runaway championship leader Antonelli's car, Mercedes admitted it has not yet brought the level of performance it thought it would offer.
- Mercedes continues to roll out new models in rapid succession, debuting the second-generation GLB.
- The Mercedes logo even extends into the headlights and taillights, not to mention the glass roof, where the stars light up.
- "You can't see that it's lagging," said Wolff, when asked about Red Bull's first in-house engine.
- As long as you’re not taller than 1.71 meters (5′ 7″), you’ll have enough room in the back.
- The GLB simply adds the “with EQ Technology” suffix to distinguish it from the mild-hybrid model.