Mercedes will unveil their 2025 car on February 24. As previously reported, in a break from tradition, the Silver Arrows will launch their new challenger in an online event.
Photos of the W16 will also be shared on social media channels, before the actual shakedown scheduled for the following day (February 25) in Bahrain.
Mercedes will complete 200 km, an early opportunity to verify the functioning of the car before pre-season testing. Mercedes will share images and assess technical data between February 24 and 25. Toto Wolff, George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and other senior figures like James Allison will give their early thoughts.
Mercedes: More tests for Antonelli, Russell also present
Mercedes made their 2025 track debut in mid-January, when Kimi Antonelli went to Jerez for a test session. Antonelli used the W11 from way back in 2020, due to the new restrictions imposed by the FIA regarding TPC [Testing Previous cars] tests.
Until last year, teams had the possibility of grinding out unlimited kilometres in TPC. However, for 2025, the FIA has imposed a maximum of 1000 kilometres – limited to a maximum of 4 days running.
This is to prevent teams from exploiting these tests for more ‘technical’ purposes. For this reason, Mercedes opted for a THC test, i.e with W11 from 5 seasons ago, where teams are allowed unlimited running.
Mercedes made the same choice for another two days of running held at the Jerez track, last Tuesday and Wednesday (4-5/February). Unlike Ferrari, the Silver Arrows has opted to save their TPC tests for later in the season.
In addition to Antonelli, George Russell was also seen on the track driving the W11, which featured a camouflage livery. The team opted for this design as they finalised sponsorship deals for 2025.
The official w16 livery will be unveiled on February 18 .
Mercedes: Only Russell will be on Pirelli tests (2026 tyres), Antonelli will return to track on filming day
Mercedes’ pre-season is not over yet, however. As Pirelli have already announced, on February 13 and 14 there will be two more days of Pirelli testing on the 2026 prototype tyres.
While Alpine will take part in both days of testing, McLaren and Mercedes will do one day each.
Toto Wolff’s team will take to the track on February 13, while McLaren will take to the track the following day.
For the Woking team, it was a ‘smart’ choice make themselves available to Pirelli at the beginning of 2025.
This has meant Ferrari did not use any TPC test days, and the old MCL35 was also avoided for Mercedes-style THCs.
Also in Jerez, the location chosen by Pirelli for the next tests, only George Russell will take to the track for Mercedes.
The Brackley team has made a similar choice to Ferrari, adapting the 2024 W15 for these important development tests.
Mercedes went for their own approach, unlike McLaren who, having started testing in October last year, prepared the MCL60 (2023) as a mule car.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will return to the track on Mercedes’ filming day on February 25th, where George Russell will also be present.
“I can’t wait,” Russell said at a recent presentation with Adidas.
“To get on track for the first time, to do those first three laps – where I can understand if I have a world championship car.”
Of course, Adidas will sponsor and equip the Silver Arrows in the upcoming 2025 season.
