Mercedes will be the latest team to unveil their 2026 F1 car livery at their launch event on Monday.
Red Bull started the launch season in January with an extravagant launch in partnership with new engine partner Ford in Detroit, revealing the liveries for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
Haas and Audi followed, with Ferrari and Alpine also unveiling their 2026 car before the pre-season test in Barcelona.
Anticipation is high at the Silver Arrows and for drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with Mercedes’ supremacy in launching their power unit back in 2014 seen as evidence that they could nail this set of regulations once again.
Follow Mercedes’ F1 car launch live with The Independent
MERCEDES F1 CAR LAUNCH - LATEST UPDATES
- Mercedes will launch their 2026 car at 11:30am (GMT)
- George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Toto Wolff will be present at the event
- READ: Winners and losers from F1 test in Barcelona
- Mercedes are seen by many as the favourites ahead of the new season
How different will the new rules be?
11:46 , Kieran JacksonWolff: “I think they will have a great impact, because we're adding another dimension.
“When it was the DRS that allowed us to really slipstream each other and overtake now we're having more functionality.
“There is this strategic, almost chess-like component that comes into the into play, where drivers can decide where they're gonna, you know, call upon more power and for overtaking and for doing this kind of games.
“I think it's going to be fantastic, also for our younger audiences. It becomes even more of a video game character, without taking anything away from the sport, best man and best machine is going to win. I can't wait until we get into it.”
Toto Wolff:
11:37 , Kieran Jackson”Looking at the car, you can clearly see the differences. It's smaller, it's compact, it's it's nimble, it's agile.
“I think this year, also, in terms of the livery, we've achieved something that is that is pretty spectacular. And we've been in Barcelona, and we've seen those cars first time on speed, and we are totally excited to see how the new power unit regulations and how the new chassis regulations are going to pan out.”
Mercedes launch LIVE
11:33 , Kieran JacksonMercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff is speaking at the launch first up this morning:
Five minutes until launch
11:25 , Kieran JacksonWe’re just a few minutes away from the launch event, which starts at 11:30am.
We’ve also been hearing from George Russell, Kimi Antonelli and Toto Wolff this morning, with their thoughts to be revealed from midday.
Can Lewis Hamilton challenge for F1 title? Everything we know about 2026 Ferrari car
11:20 , Kieran JacksonHeading into his 20th consecutive year in the sport, Lewis Hamilton has witnessed his fair share of regulation changes in Formula 1. The most recent, in 2022, saw the Briton’s era of domination at Mercedes abruptly end. As such, his move to Ferrari last year marked the start of a new chapter. Something fresh, decked in red.
Yet even Hamilton has acknowledged, as pre-season testing gets underway this week in Barcelona, that this year’s regulation shake-up is the biggest he has ever seen. For all 11 teams, the sense of the unknown is palpable as they gather data and crunch the numbers ahead of the first race in Australia on 8 March.
Hamilton endured a chastening first year with Ferrari. No wins, no podiums (for the first time in 19 F1 seasons) and, by the end, a figure of utter demoralisation both on the track and in the media pen. The 41-year-old, in what was billed as the sweetest of transfers to F1’s most fabled team, suitably labelled 2025 his “worst season ever.”
But the only way is up, right? It’s a clean slate for all the teams and, after a campaign to forget, Ferrari will be desperate to be right back up the top of the leaderboard, challenging for race victories and, ultimately, world championships.
But at this early stage, are Ferrari well-placed to launch a title challenge?
Can Lewis Hamilton challenge for F1 title? Everything we know about 2026 Ferrari car
Williams F1 boss James Vowles explains ‘incredibly painful’ call to miss Barcelona test
11:10 , Kieran Jackson“It clearly wasn’t our plan [to miss Barcelona] and it’s incredibly painful,” Vowles said, in a conference call on Wednesday. “But it’s also our determination to push to the limits of the regulations.”
In explaining his decision, Vowles said: “There’s no point being just underneath the curb. We need to find the pinpoints and put them right very quickly. I’m confident in our decision to miss Barcelona. I’m pleased to say we’ve passed all necessary tests, we’re ready for Bahrain and we’ll carry out a promotional filming day before that.
“The car this year that we’ve built is about three times more complicated than anything we’ve put through our business before. The amount of load going through our system. We started falling a bit behind. In addition to that, we’ve pushed the boundaries in certain areas. It was only a blip in the grand scheme of things.”
Verdict on Mercedes after F1 test
11:00 , Kieran JacksonThe frontrunners heading into this season, such was their prowess in their power unit development back in 2014, nothing this week has dampened that label. In fact, it has solidified.
The Silver Arrows were the first car out of the pit-lane at 9am on Monday morning and racked up some impressive feats. By the end of their third day of running, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli had completed 500 laps between them. Not only that, but Antonelli was fastest on day two and Russell on day four.
Of course, lap times should be taken with a pinch of salt, this week of all weeks. More onus should be placed on the leaderboard at the final pre-season test in Bahrain (18-20 February). But Mercedes’s reliability and outright speed was impressive amidst the dampness of Catalunya. There were no crashes and no deviations from planned track time.
The talk of the paddock is that Mercedes are now beyond focusing on reliability and are actually fine-tuning their car setup. If you had to pick a favourite right now, Toto Wolff’s outfit would be on pole position.
MORE: Horner on his future
10:50 , Kieran JacksonReflecting on the speculation surrounding his future, Horner added: "What has been fascinating is that I stepped out of Red Bull on July 8, and this is the first time I have actually spoken to anyone. (In the media) I think I have been going to every single Formula One team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid.
“And there just seems to be an appetite as to: ‘What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?’ The reality is that until the spring I can’t do anything anyway.
“It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams."
ICYMI: Horner speaks in public for first time since Red Bull sacking
10:40 , Kieran JacksonSpeaking at the European Motor Show in Dublin, Horner broke his silence, stating: "I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula One. It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish. But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win."
He elaborated on his conditions for a comeback, emphasising a desire for a significant role.
"I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built. I had 21 incredible years in Formula One. I had a great run, won a lot of races, championships and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers and partners. I don’t need to go back. I could stop my career now.
“So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire. I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything."
What are the pre-season dates?
10:30 , Kieran JacksonMercedes were the standout team at the first pre-season test in Barcelona, a five-day private shakedown.
There will then be two official pre-season tests in Bahrain on 11-13 February and 18-20 February.
The 2026 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March.
Kimi Antonelli in midst of F1 testing last week:
10:20 , Kieran Jackson“The car feels nice, we still have a lot of running and learning to do, but it was good to see it out on track,” the Italian told Mercedes’ official website.
“All the cars look really nice and they are quick. I don’t think the gaps on the grid will be as big as people think, we will have some close fights.
“It will take time for everyone to understand, particularly with the battery management, but once we start racing it will all get very exciting.”
VIDEO: 2026 F1 rules explained
10:10 , Kieran JacksonWhere can I watch launch?
09:59 , Kieran JacksonThe reveal event will be streamed on Mercedes’ F1 website. The stream will feature a panel discussion with Toto Wolff, Russell, Antonelli and reserve driver Frederik Vesti, followed by a walkthrough of all the new rules and regulations for F1 2026 with key members of our technical leadership team.
The Independent will also provide live text coverage.
George Russell on F1 test in Barcelona:
09:50 , Kieran Jackson"It's been a positive test; we had lots of mileage on the car, which was the main focus of the test," Russell reflected.
"The car is feeling nice to drive, there are no major issues, and no porpoising, which is pretty good news for all of us.
"It will save a few years on the back, so all in all, it was a decent few days.
"The car has been working well, but it is not about how well it works; it is about how quickly it goes around the track, and we don't really have an indication of that at the moment.
"But we're in a reasonably good place, but I'm sure things are going to change a lot between now and the next Bahrain test, and then I am sure people will be bringing upgrades to the car, so it is still very much early days."
READ: Winners and losers from first F1 test
09:40 , Kieran JacksonWe had onlookers peering through binoculars on the hills. We had boisterous security guards warding off unwanted intruders. And we had a broadcast blackout, the ultimate paradox in this fly-on-the-wall Formula 1 era.
All in all, it was a peculiar start to the 2026 season this week in Barcelona. It always looked an oddity on the pre-season schedule that this week’s five-day “shakedown” event – essentially referring to the first occasion a team trials its new car – would be held in secret. There was a limit on photographs, videos, interviews and the release of lap times, despite 40 hours of track time in total.
Yet inevitably, information has leaked out. With two more pre-season tests to come in Bahrain next month, ahead of the season-opener in Australia on 8 March, this was not the teams performing at their optimum. Some did well to make the test at all, given Williams’s absence due to car delays.
The likes of Mercedes and Red Bull were out of the blocks quickly, while Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin maximised their development time in joining later in the week. The miles clocked varied up and down the grid but for new teams, like Audi and Cadillac, every lap helped as they gathered crucial data to prepare for the campaign ahead.
But who were the winners and losers from this week’s first pre-season test?
Are Mercedes 2026 F1 title favourites? Winners and losers from first pre-season test
Mercedes have unveiled digital renders
09:37 , Kieran JacksonA few weeks ago, Mercedes did unveil digital renders of their 2026 car with a striking black-and-silver design.
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What time is Mercedes’ 2026 F1 car launch?
09:31 , Kieran JacksonThe launch event is on Monday 2 February and is scheduled to start at 11:30am (GMT).
Russell and Antonelli will both be present for the online event.
Mercedes F1 car launch
09:28 , Kieran JacksonMercedes will be the latest team to unveil their 2026 F1 car livery at their launch event on Monday.
Red Bull started the launch season in January with an extravagant launch in partnership with new engine partner Ford in Detroit, revealing the liveries for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
Haas and Audi followed, with Ferrari and Alpine also unveiling their 2026 car before the pre-season test in Barcelona.
Anticipation is high at the Silver Arrows and for drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with Mercedes’ supremacy in launching their power unit back in 2014 seen as evidence that they could nail this set of regulations once again.
