Get ready for another high-octane season in the world of Formula 1! Mercedes will be unveiling its 2025 car just two days before pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain on February 24th. The W16, which replaces the W03 that didn’t see action with Lewis Hamilton in 2012, marks a significant change for the team as it prepares to welcome George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli to its lineup.
What We Know So Far About the 2025 Mercedes Car
The news of the car’s unveiling has got fans buzzing, and we’ve got some juicy details to share. The W16 is set to be revealed on February 24th, ahead of a filming day at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 25th. After that, the team will head to Sakhir for pre-season testing from February 26-28th.
But what can we expect from this new car? Well, according to Motorsport.com, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Mercedes in recent years. The W15 was plagued by overheating issues and struggled with its set-up window, which often left the team on the back foot.
On the other hand, the W15 excelled in cooler conditions, particularly when it came to switching tyres more successfully. And, yes, you guessed it – it worked best at low ride heights! But at bumpier circuits, those same lows would siphon performance away from the team.
So, what’s changed for 2025? Well, according to Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin, the team was hurt by a perceived lag in its update schedule compared to other top teams. It needed time to grasp the new concept developed for 2024.
The 2025 Livery and More
But that’s not all – Mercedes will also be unveiling its 2025 livery at the collective F1 season launch event at the O2 Arena in London on February 18th. What’s special about this year’s livery? It commemorates F1’s 75th anniversary, of course!
Interestingly, Ferrari and Williams have both announced launch dates for their 2025 machines – with Williams planning to unveil its new FW47 in a unique colour scheme before the collective livery launch event.