The Silver Arrows, who have lost Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari this year, launched the W16 car this afternoon in a digital-only launch. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will then drive the car in a shakedown in Bahrain on Tuesday.
The official three-day pre-season test starts at the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday, two weeks before the first race of the season in Australia.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has threatened to boycott any future F1 launch events held in England after being booed in London at F1 75 Live last week.
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F1 NEWS - LATEST UPDATES
- Mercedes have officially launched their 2025 car on Monday afternoon
- Pre-season testing in Bahrain starts on Wednesday
- Max Verstappen has threatened to boycott future launch events in England
- READ: Inside Lewis Hamilton’s ‘magic’ first month as a Ferrari F1 driver
- Carlos Sainz teams up with George Russell for prestigious F1 role
Mercedes release photos of the W16!
14:14
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Kieran Jackson
After seeing the livery last week in London, Mercedes have now released photos of their W16 car in all its glory!
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will take it for a shakedown tomorrow in Bahrain.
WATCH: Hamilton speaks about Ferrari's car compared to Mercedes and McLaren
14:13
,
Kieran Jackson
Silverstone confirms star-studded lineup for F1 British Grand Prix
13:52
,
Kieran Jackson
The four-day event, taking place from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th July, sees high-profile acts on the main stage in the evening.
BRIT award-winning artist Sam Fender opens proceedings on Thursday night, followed by multi-award-winning singer RAYE on Friday.
DJ icon Fatboy Slim takes to the stage on Saturday night, after qualifying on track, before Becky Hill concludes proceedings on Sunday night after the grand prix earlier in the day.
Ollie Bearman out on track in Bahrain!
13:24
,
Kieran Jackson
Haas are undertaking a filming day in Bahrain with full-time rookie Bearman in the cockpit!
First time in the VF-25 #HaasF1 #F1 | @OllieBearman pic.twitter.com/T1ovkVMgzF
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 24, 2025
WATCH: Horner booed at F1 75 Live
13:03
,
Kieran Jackson
Carlos Sainz names his four F1 title contenders – and Lewis Hamilton is ignored
12:48
,
Kieran Jackson
When asked between reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Sainz replied: “I think it will be between those first three you have said.
“If Mercedes make a good car, I would put [George] Russell in too. I think he is at a very good level. Any of those can beat each other this year.”
Ferrari fans labelled ‘idiots’ for cutting down tree to watch Lewis Hamilton
12:28
,
Kieran Jackson
A group of Ferrari fans who were recorded cutting down trees for a better view of Lewis Hamilton on track on Wednesday have been labelled as “idiots” by users on social media.
Hamilton, who has moved to Ferrari after 12 years and six titles with Mercedes, took to the track for the first time in the team’s 2025 car, the SF-25, at the Fiorano circuit near Ferrari HQ in Maranello.
Hundreds of fans gathered on the bridge and banks overlooking the 3km circuit, with Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc emerging throughout the day to meet the famous ‘tifosi’ fanbase.
Full story below:
F1 prize money: How much will teams earn for 2025 season?
12:08
The prize pot for the teams at the end of the season is usually around 50% of F1’s commercial rights profit.
1st - $140m
2nd - $131m
3rd - $122m
4th - $113m
5th - $104m
6th - $95m
7th - $87m
8th - $78m
9th - $69m
10th - $60m
Figures are approximate and currently based on 2024 sums
Carlos Sainz teams up with George Russell in prestigious F1 role
11:54
,
Kieran Jackson
Carlos Sainz has been named as a director of F1’s drivers’ body, the GPDA, for the 2025 season and beyond.
The Spaniard, who has moved to Williams from Ferrari this year, has replaced four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, with the German stepping down last year following his retirement in 2022.
Sainz joins Mercedes driver George Russell as an active driver in a leadership role with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
Full story below:
Aston Martin officially launch 2025 car!
11:32
,
Kieran Jackson
Fernando Alonso backed Aston Martin to “catch up pretty soon” to the front of the F1 pack this year.
Alonso was speaking as Aston unveiled their 2025 car, the AMR25, on Sunday.
"We did learn a lot last year, the second part of the season [there were] a lot of experiments going on in the way of learning more things in the 2025 car," Alonso said.
"We have new tools, new organisation, new people in place to tackle some of the weaknesses we identified last year, so we start in a much better place."
When does new F1 season start?
11:13
Australia will host the opening race of the Formula 1 season this year – with no new races once again on the calendar.
It means Lewis Hamilton will debut for Ferrari at Albert Park in Melbourne, which last hosted the first race in 2019 after Covid put paid to the 2020 opener.
Australia will stage the first race of the season on Sunday 16 March - two weeks later than the 2024 start date.
What channel is F1 pre-season test on?
10:55
,
Kieran Jackson
Sky Sports F1, the rights holder for F1 in the UK, will broadcast every minute of pre-season testing.
The broadcast team, however, is typically made up of commentators and presenters from both Sky and F1 TV.
Sky’s pit-lane reporter, Ted Kravitz, will be on-site for the test and is likely to present his daily ‘Notebook’ segment.
FEATURE: Inside Lewis Hamilton’s ‘magic’ first month as a Ferrari F1 driver
10:35
From the moment Lewis Hamilton set foot in the industrial town of Maranello on a bleak overcast day in mid-January, the fanfare has exceeded all expectations.
In fact, Formula 1 has never seen anything quite like this.
The merging of the sport’s biggest star and the sport’s most fabled team has resulted in wonderful scenes of devotion, splendour and brouhaha. Most of these have taken place in Italy, Hamilton’s new home away from Monaco, with one memorable night in London on Tuesday.
Read full piece below:
Lewis Hamilton insists Ferrari’s F1 car is ‘nothing like’ past Mercedes or McLaren cars
10:22
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s nothing like the car that I’ve had before the last 10, 12, 17 years,” Hamilton said, in his first official interview in Ferrari colours.
“It’s unique on its own. To feel the vibration of the Ferrari engine for the first time, wow! That’s what I think ultimately put the biggest smile on my face.
“I’d always seen all the drivers who had come before me in red and how that would look on me, and it’s a real honour to wear this badge and suit. I hope I get out and make it look good.”
Max Verstappen threatens boycott after being booed at F1 launch event in London
10:13
,
Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has threatened to boycott any future F1 launches which take place in England after being booed by sections of the British crowd at F1 75 Live last week.
Four-time F1 world champion Verstappen appeared on screen to a mixed reception, with initial boos being drowned out eventually by cheers, after being introduced by host Jack Whitehall in London last Tuesday.
Jos Verstappen, Max’s father and former F1 driver, told RaceXpress over the weekend that it was “unacceptable” that his son was booed by the 15,000-strong crowd.
Read more below:
When is pre-season testing?
10:08
,
Kieran Jackson
The official pre-season test takes place from Wednesday 26 February to Friday 28 February.
In line with previous years, the track will be open for eight hours each day, starting at 7am (GMT) and ending at 4pm (GMT).
Barring any injuries, illness or car breakdowns, each driver will get 12 hours of time in the car over the course of the three days.
Who is Lewis Hamilton's replacement Kimi Antonelli?
10:03
Antonelli, 18, has been on Mercedes’ books since joining their junior programme at 11 years old. In the years since, he has won numerous karting and single-seater competitions, which has thrust him into the spotlight at such a young age.
In 2023, he won both the Formula Regional Championships in Europe and the Middle East and Mercedes, in partnership with Prema. decided that the highly-rated youngster should skip F3 in 2024.
Antonelli finished sixth in the 2024 F2 standings and on the same weekend as his 2025 F1 seat was announced at Monza in September, Antonelli crashed just 10 minutes into his first practice session at Parabolica corner.
Mercedes F1 car launch!
10:00
,
Kieran Jackson
The Silver Arrows, who have lost Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari this year, will launch the W16 car this afternoon in a digital-only launch.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will then drive the car in a shakedown in Bahrain on Tuesday.
Update to follow as pictures of the car are released early this afternoon!
