The silver arrows are back with a brand new livery combining their two colour ways again this season. The front of the car will be silver and bends into black in the back. The teal highlights, to represent title sponsor Petronas, are also still present and used to highlight the streamline of the vehicle.
Mercedes are predicted to be very strong this season, as they have always been very successful in a new regulation year. The team with eight championships under their belt has opted to release images of the livery on social media first but has also hosted an unveiling event in Brackley with their drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, senior personnel and of course the W17 before heading to Bahrain for pre season testing.
“Formula 1will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition,” said Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff. “The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance. Our work on the new car, and the long-term development of the Power Unit and advanced sustainable fuels with Petronas, reflects that approach.”
The design mercedes is showcasing with the W17 is very distinct, especially the rear of the car appears different than the rest of the grid who have decided to go for downwash bodyworks instead of the lower bodywork with an upwards kink at the end like Merc. Seeing as these images are computerised and not yet the real car it remains to be seen, how different the 2026 challenger for Mercedes actually ends up being, but it is definitely noteworthy. If the real car indeed has this sidepod and/or engine cover and the team has committed in-washing floor boards, then there will be many seeking to understand how Mercedes have chosen to resolve the conflicting demands of the new regulations – something many teams tend to struggle with.
feature image taken from: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/first-look-mercedes-reveal-first-images-of-the-w17-with-new-livery-design.3PiP6vnYUBcKolJt2v2CNI (05.02.2026)
