Williams Racing sees no reason to stop a good thing going.
The Formula 1 team finished 7th in the 2023 season and finished in the points in seven races, netting 28 points — the most it has had in a three-year span. The team did all that with Mercedes engines, and F1 journalist Chris Medland announced on Monday that the team is extending their contract with Mercedes as a customer team until 2030.
Williams initially began to use Mercedes engines in 2014, switching from Renault engines used the two seasons prior.
Williams has signed an extension that will see it use Mercedes power units until 2030 #F1
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) January 8, 2024
The new engine agreement will extend beyond the regulation changes for power units coming in 2026, so the move is a bit of risk given a looming change to the engines that will require a larger MGU-K to provide almost triple the electrical power in the engines themselves.
The team has also had a relationship with Mercedes in regard to their drivers. The team was the first F1 step for current Mercedes driver George Russell, who (technically) put the car on a podium at Spa in 2021. For 2024, at least, the team will continue with Thai driver Alexander Albon and American driver Logan Sargeant.