After revealing the first images of the 2026 livery, Mercedes is ready to show the real W17, the Formula 1 car that will compete throughout the 2026 season. Here’s how to follow the live presentation of the new car.
After the livery reveal, the next step for 2026
Following the official presentation of the 2026 livery, the Mercedes team is taking another significant step toward the new season. Today marks the official unveiling of the real W17, the car that will hit the track from the very first Bahrain tests. Below, we explain how fans and media can follow the event live.
The team to beat… especially after the shakedown
For much of last season, and particularly throughout the winter break, Mercedes has been at the center of discussions among F1 insiders and fans alike. The team appears to be the one interpreting the new 2026 engine regulations better than anyone else, especially with the increased role of the electrical component in the power unit.
There is more to the story. According to rumors circulating in recent weeks, the Mercedes engineers may have exploited a gray area in the technical regulations to build a power unit capable of producing around 20 extra horsepower compared to their rivals. This would translate into roughly three-tenths of a second per lap advantage. To confirm these claims in practice, however, we will need to wait for the official Bahrain testing sessions, or perhaps even the first Grand Prix of the season.
How much of this is true remains uncertain. Even after the three days of shakedown testing, while Mercedes showed itself to be extremely prepared by completing a huge number of laps with very few issues, we will still need to wait for official on-track testing to be certain of their full performance potential.
Where to watch the live W17 presentation
The unveiling of the real Mercedes W17 will take place at Silverstone. Fans can follow the event live via the link provided below, starting at 12:25 local time. Following the launch, the new W17 will be on track from February 11 to 13 for another three days of official testing in Bahrain, giving the team its first proper running under 2026 regulations.
The unveiling of the genuine Mercedes W17 at Silverstone marks a critical moment in the lead-up to the 2026 season, as the team looks to transform rumors of a 20-horsepower engine advantage into tangible on-track dominance. By transitioning from a mere livery launch to the reveal of their actual technical solution, the Silver Arrows are signaling their readiness to exploit the new hybrid-heavy regulations. Ultimately, while the Barcelona shakedown demonstrated impressive reliability, the true potential of this highly anticipated challenger will only be confirmed when it faces the stopwatch during the official Bahrain tests later this month.
In short, today’s launch provides the first real look at the machinery Mercedes believes will put them back at the front of the grid, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in Sakhir.
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