Mercedes F1 had some potentially very bad news: the bankruptcy of the company Reaction Engines, which supplies the turbos for the team's powertrains
But the team took “provisions so that it will receive the necessary equipment for the 2025 season”by ordering in advance the stock necessary to get through the season, with a margin outside the FIA quota of course.
As for the future, the Brackley team assures that it had “already decided to no longer use this supplier from the 2026 season” for the new hybrid engines, which will have to combine 50% thermal power with 50% electric power.
Mercedes uses a different turbo than its rivals, with an air-to-water cooler. Most engine manufacturers prefer an air-air version because it is thinner and less heavy.
This turbo is supplied by Reaction Engines, a company that had also had financial problems before. These were previously resolved by external investors, but as of October they failed to find another investor.
170 employees out of 208 had already been informed that they would be laid off in November. The last employees will finish manufacturing turbos for Mercedes for the 2025 season and other orders before the company closes for good.
