On February 24, 2025, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team launched their 2025 contender, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W16 E Performance, via a polished digital event, just days before pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain. The reveal marks a turning point for the Silver Arrows, as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton departs for Ferrari after 12 years and six titles with the team. Stepping into the spotlight are George Russell, now in his fourth season with Mercedes, and 18-year-old rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a rising star from the team’s junior program.

The W16 builds on lessons from the W15, which delivered four wins in 2024 but struggled with inconsistency, leaving Mercedes fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. Technical Director James Allison described the car as a “mature step forward” in its fourth year under the ground-effect rules—set to expire after 2025. Engineers focused on sharpening slow-corner performance and stabilizing tire temperatures, revamping aerodynamics and tweaking the front suspension. “We’ve honed every detail through simulator work to iron out last year’s quirks,” Allison explained. The car hits the track for a filming day in Bahrain on February 25, with full testing running February 26-28.

Russell, fresh off victories in Austria and Las Vegas last season, pairs with Antonelli, who brings Formula 4, Regional, and F2 accolades to his F1 debut. “The team’s fired up to build on 2024,” Russell said, while Antonelli vowed to “learn quickly and contribute.” The W16 sports the familiar black-and-silver livery—unveiled earlier at London’s F1 75 Live event—honoring Hamilton’s legacy while embracing a new era, as Team Principal Toto Wolff put it.

After dominating F1 from 2014 to 2021, Mercedes faces stiff competition from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Wolff remains cautiously optimistic: “The field’s close, but we’re here to fight at the front.” With the season opener in Australia on March 14-16 looming, the W16 blends experience and youth in a bid to reclaim the team’s past glory.