BEYOND THE GRID: Toto Wolff and Hywel Thomas on how Mercedes are racing towards 2026
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Hywel Thomas, are the latest guests on Beyond The Grid.

As Formula 1 enters an exciting new era of fast, thrilling and sustainable racing in 2026, what can we expect on track?
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Hywel Thomas, explain how the new power units and advanced sustainable fuels will enhance performance and demand different skills from the drivers and teams.
Toto and Hywel tell host Tom Clarkson how they feel on the eve of this new rule cycle compared to 2014, when they went on to win eight Constructors’ World Championships in a row, and what they make of rumours in the paddock pitching them as pre-season favourites.
You’ll also hear their thoughts on how George Russell and Kimi Antonelli performed in 2025, and what they can achieve in the coming years.
To listen to this week’s episode, simply hit go on the audio player above or click here to listen via your preferred podcasting platform.
You can also check out a huge selection of previous episodes – spanning every decade of F1 – in our dedicated Beyond The Grid library here.

Next Up
Related Articles
Felbermayr pips Palmowski to F1 ACADEMY Race 2 victory in Shanghai
Red Bull Qualifying changes made 'zero difference' – Verstappen
Antonelli is your Driver of the Day after first victory in China
UnlockedWhat To Watch For in the Chinese Grand Prix
Norris and Piastri explain pre-race issues in China
BettingHow Qualifying in China changed the betting markets