Mercedes have elected against holding a launch event for their 2025 F1 chall𝔉enger in a break from tradition, mahbx.com has learned.

In previous yꦫears Mercedes have presented their new F1 car at Silverstone before conducting a shakedown run and filming day ahead of pre-season testing.

However, Mercedes have decided against doing so in 2025, meaning the post-168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton era will begin without an official launch.

Mercedes’ W16 challenger will break cover for the first time when the Silver Arrows  use one of their filming days at the Bahrain International Circuit on 25 February, with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell and rookie 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Andrea Kimi Antonelli sharing driving duties.

That will take place a day bef♌ore pꦑre-season testing gets underway between 26-28 February in Bahrain.

Ba🌳rring 2021, Mercedes haveඣ staged a launch-style event at Silverstone since 2017.

While the W16 itself will not emerge for the first time until late February, Mercedes will unveil their 2025 livery🎃 along wi🎃th every other team at F1’s official season launch event on 18 February at London’s O2 Arena.

Hamiltonꦆ’s new team Ferrari were the 𒈔first to announce a 2025 car launch date.

The Scuderia will take the covers off their new car at the Fiorano test track in Mar😼anello on 19 February, with the seven-time world champion and new teammate Charles Leclerc set to drive it for the first time.

Williams will present their new FW47 challenger in a special one-off l🎃ivery ไat Silverstone on 14 February.

Antonelli racks up testing miles

Meanwhile, Mercedes boss T🌜oto Wolff has revealed that Antonelli has racked up “almost 9000 kilometres” in F1 cars prior to his debut this season.

The 18-year-old Formula 2 graduate is replacing Ham𒁃ilton at Merc🌄edes.

Antonelli has sampled several old Merꩲcedes F1 cars at different circ✨uits in the past 12 months to help prepare him for his rookie campaign.

The Italian completed his first test of the year on Wedn♔esday at Jerez, where he drove Mercedes’ 2020 title-winning W11 car in a camoflague livery.

Wolff has been keen to downplay expectations surrounding Antonelli, who crashed within minutes of his F1 p🍒ractice debut at Monza l𝓰ast year.

“If you expect him to be on pole position in Melbourne, win the race and immediately compete for the championship, then t🐽he risk is high because that won’t happen,” Wolff said.

“If we take the approach that the boy is 18 years old, very talented, but of course has to grow into it first and will make mistakes, then the risk is limited. That’s why we’re doing it. We see 2025 as a transition year and want to prepare him for 2ꦜ026.”