Formula 1 constructors’ champions Mercedes bring celebrations home to Brackley and Brixworth

Celebrations five years in the making got underway at Brackley and Brixworth this week, as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team returned home to mark a historic championship triumph.

Newly-crowned 2026 F1 constructors’ champions Mercedes arrived back on Wednesday, greeting their 2,000-strong family for the first time since securing their ninth title.

The party had already begun upon winning the championship at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, just a week after Kimi Antonelli was crowned drivers’ world champion, but the best was yet to come at base in Northamptonshire.

Starting with a visit to Brixworth, the home of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), team principal Toto Wolff and driver pairing Antonelli and George Russell received a guard of honour alongside HPP managing director Hywel Thomas.

In a season of trials and tribulations created by the new-for-2026 F1 regulations, the power unit was absolutely critical. With Mercedes engines also used by the McLaren, Williams and Alpine teams, the design, manufacturing and testing processes at Brixworth are vigorous.

So, for the nearly 1,000 employees at this particular Mercedes base, spending time with the public-facing Wolff, Antonelli, Russell and co made the 2026 titles feel tangible. As did the songs, chants, speeches, confetti, photographs and more.

It was a similar story at the next destination: the main headquarters in Brackley. This base, a 50-minute drive south, is predominantly for chassis development — but it’s a huge campus with testing centres, simulators, a wind tunnel, race bays, engineering suites and more.

The celebrations began outside on Laura Drive before Wolff, Antonelli and Russell headed inside for further photographs, many of which captured the explosion of teal confetti in the race bays. In that space, the trophies from all 12 wins throughout the 2026 season were on display.

Reflecting on an incredible day celebrating with the men and women, many of whom are largely behind the scenes, Wolff said: “There are moments when you must stop and appreciate what has been achieved, and today is one of them.

“The past few years have tested us. We made mistakes, we challenged ourselves, we changed, and we kept working. There was never going to be a shortcut back to fighting for championships. That is why being able to stand here today with everyone in Brackley and Brixworth means so much.

“The constructors’ championship belongs to every person in this team. Every detail, every difficult day, every improvement and every contribution has played a part. That is Formula 1. What happens on Sunday is only possible because of the work that happens here every day.

“Today is about recognising what everyone has achieved together. We should enjoy it. Then, as always in this sport, we get back to work.”

As Wolff alludes to, there are still races to be won with three more to go – starting with the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the early hours of Sunday, November 22 before trips to Qatar and Abu Dhabi to round off the campaign.

But there’s still time to mark the achievements, not least those of the drivers who have represented the entire Mercedes team around the world.

“Kimi’s achievement is a very special one,” Wolff added on Antonelli’s maiden F1 title. “We have known him since he was a kid and supported him through our junior programme, into F1 and now to a world championship.

“But he has earned this. He has delivered on the track under enormous pressure and deserves everything that comes with being world champion.

“George has also been fundamental to what we have achieved this season. He has performed at an incredibly high level throughout the year, delivered consistently, and been there when the team has needed him.

“His contribution goes far beyond the points he has scored too. The leadership, experience and commitment he brings to the team have been hugely important. This constructors’ championship would not have been possible without him.”

And while the Silver Arrows now turn their attention to the streets of Las Vegas, Wednesday's celebrations offered a moment for the thousands of employees in Northamptonshire to reflect on their part in another remarkable chapter in the team’s history.