Mercedes 2026 launch event: where to watch the W17 debut on February 2nd

As Formula 1 enters a transformative new era, Mercedes is preparing to make a bold statement with its official 2026 season launch tomorrow, Monday, February 2. Following the initial livery reveal on social media last week, the Brackley-based outfit will present a comprehensive vision of its championship ambitions through an online event that promises technical insights, driver perspectives, and critical details about the revolutionary new regulations.

The Silver Arrows have experienced a rollercoaster through the current generation of regulations, but the dawn of 2026 represents a fresh opportunity to reclaim their position at Formula 1's summit. With a reinvigorated technical approach and the backing of championship partners, Mercedes is positioning itself to dominate the sport once again.

When and where to watch the Mercedes' launch

The Mercedes 2026 F1 launch event will take place tomorrow at 11:30 GMT and will be streamed exclusively on the team's official website. For global audiences, the event translates to convenient viewing times across major markets:

• 12:30 CET
• 03:30 PST
• 06:30 EST
• 20:30 JST
• 19:30 CST

Beyond the main stream, Mercedes will supplement the official broadcast with behind-the-scenes footage released via the team's social media channels throughout the day, offering fans additional perspectives on the launch proceedings. The Independent will also provide live text coverage for those preferring written updates.

Who will be present

The launch event will feature a distinguished roster of key figures from the Mercedes organization. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the team's driver pairing for 2026, will participate in a panel discussion alongside team principal and CEO Toto Wolff and reserve driver Frederik Vesti. This format ensures audiences hear directly from the individuals steering Mercedes' championship challenge.

Equally important, senior members of the technical leadership team will be present to conduct a comprehensive walkthrough of the 2026 regulation changes, providing enthusiasts and analysts with critical insights into how the new rules reshape Formula 1's competitive landscape. Additionally, PETRONAS, Mercedes' title and technical partner, will host a dedicated deep dive into sustainable fuels—a central pillar of the 2026 technical revolution.

Mercedes' impressive pre-season preparations

The team arrives at tomorrow's launch from a position of considerable strength. Mercedes concluded three days of private testing in Barcelona on January 29, delivering what could only be described as an ominous performance for rivals. Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin expressed satisfaction with the reliability and development trajectory of the W17.

"From a reliability perspective, it's been a good week for us" Shovlin stated. "The car has enabled us to run the programme exactly as we wanted each of the three days and that's what we hoped for coming here to Barcelona. It is a huge testament to the hard work of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth in bringing this car to life."

Crucially, Mercedes made "good progress with some of the challenges we saw on days one and two," suggesting the team rapidly resolved early issues. However, Shovlin noted that Barcelona's cold conditions limited set-up exploration—a task reserved for official pre-season testing in Bahrain on February 11-13 and February 18-20, which will provide a more realistic performance picture as teams approach the 2026 season's opening race in Australia on March 8.

Tomorrow's launch represents the culmination of months of intensive preparation and marks the beginning of Mercedes' public campaign to reclaim the drivers' and constructors' championships.