Mercedes unveils W17 livery ahead of full 2026 F1 launch event

Mercedes has revealed the livery for its 2026 Formula 1 challenger, the W17, via social media, with a full launch event scheduled for February 2nd. The event will feature drivers George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and follows a successful three-day private test in Barcelona where the team focused on initial reliability checks.

Why it matters:

This launch marks a critical moment for Mercedes as it aims to rebound from several challenging seasons and re-establish itself as a consistent championship contender. The event also serves as the formal introduction of 18-year-old Italian prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's full-time replacement, making it a significant pivot point for the team's future driver lineup.

The details:

• The main launch event is set for Monday, February 2nd, and will be streamed live on the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's official website with additional behind-the-scenes content on social media.
• Attendees will include CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff, drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and reserve driver Fred Vesti for a panel discussion.
• The technical team will provide insights into the 2026 technical regulation changes, and partner PETRONAS will detail the new sustainable fuels mandated for the season.
• The team completed a three-day private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin described as a success from a reliability perspective, allowing the team to run its entire program as planned.

What's next:

With the livery reveal and launch event complete, the team's immediate focus shifts to the pre-season test in Bahrain. Shovlin noted that the Barcelona test was solely for proving the car's basic functionality, while Bahrain will be used for crucial setup exploration and performance evaluation, giving the first true indication of the W17's competitive potential ahead of the 2026 season opener.