Mercedes have announced that they will reveal their 2025 F1 car to motorsport enthusiasts worldwide on February 24. The launch of their 2025 challenger—Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance—will take place just a few days after all ten teams unveil their liveries during the inaugural season launch event at London’s The O2.
The W16 is set to become the first Mercedes F1 car since the 2012 W03 to not feature the number 44, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton having parted ways with the team after twelve seasons for Ferrari. As the Brackley-based squad embarks on a new era, its 2025 driver line-up will comprise the incumbent George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes being the third team so far to host separate 2025 F1 car launch
Mercedes have emerged as only the third team to confirm its separate official car launch date for the upcoming F1 season. The reveal of Williams’s 2025 challenger FW47 will take place at a special promotional event on February 14. Meanwhile, Ferrari will unveil their new F1 car on February 19 at their Fiorano test track in Maranello. As demonstrated in recent years, the drivers will also log their first few miles on the same day.
With the grid preparing to commemorate F1’s 75th anniversary, the presentation of the livery that will adorn the Mercedes 2025 F1 car will happen during the collective season launch at the O2 Arena in London on 18 February.
As confirmed already by team boss Toto Wolff, the team boasting the moniker “Silver Arrows” will continue to feature black on its F1 car livery in 2025. This is a color scheme that saw Hamilton play an instrumental role in its introduction back in 2020.
Mercedes to break tradition with the launch of their W16 F1 car
Mercedes have opted to break their nine-year custom with the launch of the 2025 F1 car. Barring the build-up to the 2021 campaign, which endured the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the eight-time constructors’ champions have unveiled their new F1 challenger at Silverstone ahead of a first shakedown since 2017.
However, deviating from their usual pre-season tradition, Mercedes will hold an online launch event for their W16 F1 car on February 24 and post relevant images on the team’s social media channels.
The following day, the German marque will conduct its first shakedown at the Bahrain International Circuit, ahead of the official pre-season testing scheduled to take place at the same venue.
Mercedes will make available a wide range of assets, including technical information and full profiles of drivers and key team figures, following the unveiling of the car to the public. Additionally, Q&As with senior personnel will be shared online.
In the meantime, Mercedes will also release interviews featuring team principal Wolff and drivers Russell and Antonelli, who will embark upon his rookie F1 season after finishing sixth in his rookie F2 campaign last year.
All ten teams will head to Bahrain for the F1 pre-season testing for three days from February 26-28. Following a change in schedule to avoid a clash with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne will host the season opener instead of Bahrain for the first time since 2019 on the weekend of March 14-16.
