Mercedes F1 Drops Photos Showing 'W17' Livery Ahead of 2026 Season

Mercedes F1 fans got their first look at the car George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will be driving during the upcoming season.

The team released images of the new-look W17 on Thursday:

According to Mercedes' press release, the car was designed with the sport's 2026 changes in mind. With new chassis, power unit and fuel regulations in place, the W17 was built "smaller, narrower, and lighter than its predecessor" with "active aerodynamics with moveable front and rear-wings" to go along with an engine that splits between electric and combustion power.

"Formula One will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition," team president Toto Wolff explained.

"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."

Mercedes is looking to return to the top of the sport after falling short in the race for the constructors' championship in each of the last four seasons.

While a second-place finish in 2023 and 2025, paired with a third-place finish in 2022, might be good enough for some teams, it was a dropoff after eight straight constructors' championships from 2014 through 2021.

But the idea of Mercedes being the gold standard in F1 may return with the new regulations in place.

"The team has already been tipped as the favourite to maximise the potential of its power unit under the 2026 regulations, which will see a threefold increase in electrical power output and a shift to using advanced sustainable fuels," ESPN's Laurence Edmondson wrote.

McLaren is coming off two consecutive constructors' championships, the last of which was fueled by Lando Norris' driver title.

Russell finished in fourth last season and, along with Antonelli, is surely expected to compete in 2026 with this new car.

The new season starts March 7 with the Australian Grand Prix.