Mercedes unveiled the W17, its 2026 challenger, hoping to break a four‑year title drought as new ground‑effect rules reshape the sport. The digital images show a sleek silver‑black chassis, hinting at the team’s ambition to reclaim front‑row dominance. Fans now anticipate a dramatic shift in the championship for 2026 season.

Driver pair George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli stay unchanged, with Russell poised for a title push thanks to Mercedes’ new power unit and Petronas‑sourced sustainable fuels. Microsoft’s fresh sponsorship underscores the team’s commercial strength, while the livery’s black stripes and green Petronas line echo the 2025 design for 2026.

Pre‑season testing kicks off in Barcelona on 26 January, followed by Bahrain sessions in February. The Australian Grand Prix opens the 2026 calendar on 6 March, with practice, qualifying and race spread over three days. Viewers can stream every weekend live on Sky Sports F1, capturing the new era’s first battles.