Mercedes presented the car with which it will compete for the constructors and drivers title, with the duo it has had this past 2025: … the British George Russell and the Italian Kimi Antonelli. The German team, without prior notice, revealed the design of the W17 through social networks, which the department comments could be the car to beat this season due to the improvements installed.
At the launch, the Brackley-based team took the opportunity to present its new sponsor: Microsoft. The American company will be located in the air box of the car. According to rumors that have reached the specialized press, it is estimated at 60 million euros, something that could make sense considering that in the monkeys it is very important and is located below Petronas, a company that has accompanied the silver arrows in recent years.
Mercedes’ debut has not been without controversy since the regulations have changed. Now, the power units welcome a 50/50 power distribution between the combustion engine and the electrical part of the engine and rumors suggest that the Teutonic team has made great progress in an engine. Together with Red Bull, they are the ones that apparently have a car best adapted to this new rule, although other teams have asked the FIA to check to the extreme the new measures that both Mercedes and Red Bull have opted for.
As for the drivers, we continue to rely on the expert hands of George Russell, who achieved two wins and seven more podiums in the last World Championship. Russell finished fourth in the standings behind the three drivers who were in the running for the title: Norris, Piastri and Verstappen. He will share the wheel with Kimi Antonelli, after in his rookie year he finished in seventh position in the Drivers’ World Championship and made three climbs to the box in Canada, Brazil and Las Vegas. The first preseason tests start on Monday in Montmeló but the teams are not obliged to provide information.
