Mercedes released the first images of its 2026 Formula 1 car, the W17, which sports a revised silver and black livery.
The team, which climbed back to second in last year’s Teams’ Championship, will retain George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming season.
Like its rivals, the W17 is smaller, narrower and lighter than its predecessor, built to meet sweeping new aerodynamic rules introduced for 2026.
«Formula 1 will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition,» said team principal and CEO Toto Wolff.
He added that the new regulations demand innovation and focus across all areas of performance.
Wolff said Mercedes’ work on the new car, and the long-term development of its power unit and sustainable fuels with partner Petronas, reflects that approach. He described the release of the W17 images as the next step in the process and praised the effort from teams in Brixworth and Brackley.
Mercedes will join the other teams in Spain next week for a five-day shakedown in Barcelona.
The eight-time world champions will then hold a season launch event on February 2, featuring the drivers, senior staff and the W17.
After the launch, the squad will travel to Bahrain for official pre-season testing, with two three-day sessions planned to fine-tune the car and seek performance gains.
Kursiv also reports that Audi unveiled their first-ever Formula 1 car at a launch event in Berlin.
