Mercedes officially launches its 2017 F1 challenger
Formula 1 world champion team Mercedes officially unveiled its 2017 car, the W08, in an event at Silverstone on Thursday.







The car had already broken cover earlier in the morning when it completed a handful of laps under the FIA's 'filming day' allowance with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel.
"It is so exciting to see this thing come together," said Hamilton as he and new teammate Valtteri Bottas revealed the car.
"From working in the wind tunnel, then they have this jig which is into real carbon fibre, you see it all come together, do the seat fitting over the winter and in the last few days seeing it all appearing, somehow they all just slot in perfectly.
"Driving today, naturally the car feels wider, which it is, and the front tyres feel huge. There is quite a lot of grip already even in the cold conditions here.
"This is not a test, really the laps I did today were behind a vehicle to get filming in and just a shakedown. I got to go a little bit faster but it's so gusty and it is wet."
Former Williams driver Bottas had a late call to join the team that has dominated the last three F1 seasons after Nico Rosberg retired days after clinching the 2016 title.
"It is a big day for me," said Bottas. "Driving a Silver Arrow for the first time is something very special.
"I have been waiting for this moment for quite a while and also for the test for a long time. I am going to drive the car in less than an hour, it feels real and I am amazed how good the car is looking.
"What I really like about this is how clean it looks, but there is a massive amount of detail on the rear end and bargeboards - development has been done - and how far everything has been taken with this car. It looks cool."

Previous article
LIVE: Follow the Mercedes F1 2017 launch as it happens
Next article
Gallery: Mercedes F1 W08 in full detail

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Event | Mercedes AMG F1 W08 launch |
Teams | Mercedes |
Author | Jonathan Noble |
Mercedes officially launches its 2017 F1 challenger
Trending
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end