Mercedes has revealed its 2025 livery. The Brackley-based team embarks on a new journey with the arrival of Andrea Kimi Antonelli following the departure of Lewis Hamilton. The official livery was unveiled at a joint event in London, and we’ll have to wait until the day before testing to find out more about the W16.
Formula 1 has already started its joint event in London. All the teams are present at the event scheduled for this evening, February 18, at the O2 Arena, to see for the first time the official team colours for the season that starts in less than a month in Australia. Next up is Mercedes, which has revealed its official livery for the debut of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
For the decoration, they opted for a very consistent design that mixes black and silver, their trademark colors in recent years. It was one of the most consistent designs in the entire range, although it is true that the black color gained a little more attention compared to its predecessor.
The car has not yet been seen in its entirety. The W16 already had a confirmed launch date, so we will have to wait a few more days to see it. The team under Toto Wolff has organized a private event where they will show for the first time the “weapon” with which they will try to attack the championship in the final year of the current rules. It will be on February 24, just a few days before the start of testing in Bahrain.
In fact, the event is already scheduled in the country, marking the arrival of the first – and only – pre-season test of the year. However, the W16 is expected to hit the track before the test: a “shake-up” is planned for Tuesday 25 February as a preview of what will be seen when the lights turn green in Bahrain on 26 February.
This livery is another step towards what Antonelli’s debut as a regular driver will look like. The very young Italian driver comes as a personal acquisition from Toto Wolff himself, who was unable to secure the services of Max Verstappen after Lewis Hamilton’s departure. The W16 is also the team’s first car without the presence of the seven-time world champion in 12 years. Therefore, the expectation to see the colours he will use was maximum from the start.
However, this wasn’t the first time Antonelli and Russell had been seen together as teammates. A few days ago, both travelled with Wolff and Valtteri Bottas to Adidas’ headquarters in Germany. It also served as a preview of what will be the official livery that was unveiled today as the 2025 driver suits were revealed, as well as the clothing they will wear.
