How many F1 teams have a Mercedes engine in the back of their car in the 2022 season, as Ferrari and Red Bull steal an early advantage?
In the 2022 F1 season, there are four suppliers of engines to the 10 teams.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault have been supplying power units since the adoption of the turbo hybrid era – and even before in the old V8 and V10 eras.
Honda joined with McLaren in 2015, but split to head to Toro Rosso/Alpha Tauri and then Red Bull for 2019.
The Japanese manufacturer withdrew at the end of 2021, with Red Bull forming Red Bull Power Trains to take over the running of the units.
Mercedes engines have been the benchmark in terms of F1 engines since 2014 – powering to 15 of 16 world championships – only Max Verstappen’s 2021 drivers’ title ending the perfect run.
But how many teams in F1 are powered by a Mercedes engine in 2022?
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F1 teams with a Mercedes engine
In 2022, Mercedes are supplying engines to four of the 10 teams on the F1 grid.
Along with the works outfit for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, Mercedes engines are also in the back of the McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams squads.
Both Aston (previously as Force India and Racing Point) and Williams have been Mercedes customers since the adoption of the turbo hybrid era in 2014.
McLaren was a long time Mercedes engine customer between 1995 and 2014 – splitting after the first year of the hybrid era to become a works Honda squad… which went well.
How did they get on in Saudi Arabia?
In the last couple of years, there has been a big turnover of staff at Mercedes High Performance Powertrains – the company who make the F1 engines.
Boss Andy Cowell, who spearheaded development of the V6 1.6L turbo hybrid departed, replaced by Hywel Thomas.
Other staff have departed, especially as Red Bull Power Trains begins to build up.
In qualifying at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, George Russell was the only Mercedes powered driver to make it through to Q3.
He was sixth fastest, with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo 11th and 12th for McLaren.
Lance Stroll was 14th fastest, with Lewis Hamilton struggling and only being 16th quickest and Nico Hulkenberg also falling in Q1.
Williams duo Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi were knocked out along with Hamilton – the latter after a crash.
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