P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes is set to begin its post-Lewis Hamilton era without a traditional Formula 1 car launch, according to a report.
According to a report by Motorsport.com, Mercedes will skip a traditional car launch event and will unveil the W16 charger at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 25, ahead of the F1 pre-season test, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli sharing the track time. This year marks the first time since 2012 that Mercedes will compete without Hamilton, ushering in a new era for the team. In a departure from Silverstone, Mercedes will have its livery unveiled alongside other teams at the F1 75 event at London’s O2 Arena on February 18, showcasing new partnerships like Adidas. Some teams, like Williams, will still hold standalone car launch events, while Hamilton will witness Ferrari’s 2025 charger unveiling in Italy on February 19. All eyes are on 18-year-old Antonelli, Hamilton’s replacement, who has been actively preparing for his F1 debut through FP1 sessions and testing mileage in previous Mercedes models. Team Principal Toto Wolff disclosed that Antonelli has already amassed around 9,000 kilometers in F1 cars.
