Mercedes unveiled a black and silver livery with green Petronas accents, resembling previous designs, during F1’s O2 event.
The team’s actual 2025 F1 car will be showcased next Monday at the official launch, followed by a shakedown in Bahrain the next day.
Mercedes has lifted the curtain on the striking paintwork for its 2025 W16, set to be piloted by George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli. The unveiling took place at the F1 75 launch event at London’s O2 arena, where all ten teams presented their liveries for the upcoming season. However, fans will have to wait until February 24 for the first digital renders of the fully assembled 2025 challenger.
Antonelli’s promotion to Formula 1 is one of the sport’s biggest talking points this year. At just 18 years old and following a single campaign in Formula 2, the Italian prodigy steps into a seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton, who embarks on a new chapter with Ferrari. Meanwhile, Russell, now in his fourth season with Mercedes, remains the team’s experienced hand, having secured three of the five grand prix victories the Silver Arrows have claimed in F1’s ground-effect era—a stark contrast to their previous dominance.
Russell acknowledged the scale of development challenges faced in recent years, but he remains optimistic about the W16’s progress. “Every season, we’ve uncovered an issue, solved it, and then unearthed another. But this time, we’ve been more disciplined with every change we’ve made,” he explained. “We’ve taken an even more rigorous approach in the simulator to ensure we’re not falling into new traps. So far, the step forward seems solid—but of course, we have no idea what our rivals have in store.”
Visually, the W16 continues Mercedes’ fusion of silver and black, a design theme first introduced on the 2020 W11. While the W13 briefly reverted to an all-silver scheme, the black livery returned with the W14 in 2023. Team principal Toto Wolff confirmed the colour choice would remain, stating it was a legacy of Hamilton’s tenure. “We’re going to continue—it’s what you brought,” he reportedly told the seven-time world champion.
This season also sees a shift in Mercedes’ off-track identity, with a new kit deal bringing Adidas into Formula 1 for the first time.
In a break from tradition, Mercedes will forego its usual Silverstone shakedown, opting instead for a digital launch on February 24. The W16 will hit the track for the first time in Bahrain, where the team will conduct a pre-season shakedown ahead of testing at the Sakhir circuit from February 26-28.
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Silver Arrows Reveal Striking Look Before 2025 Car Debut Silver Arrows Reveal Striking Look Before 2025 Car Debut
