Williams and Mercedes set dates for 2026 livery and car reveals

Williams and Mercedes have locked in dates to unveil their 2026 liveries and car designs, giving fans a first glimpse of the machines that will race under the new regulations. Williams will reveal the final FW48 race livery on Feb 3 after a fan‑designed one‑off version runs in Barcelona testing, while Mercedes will publish digital renders of its W17 on Jan 22 ahead of the pre‑season test. Both teams see the 2026 technical reset as a chance to push back toward championship contention after mixed results in the current ground‑effect era.

Why it matters:

• The livery reveal defines each team's visual identity for the season and fuels fan engagement, especially after Williams' strong 2025 campaign.
• Early exposure to the 2026 car designs signals how teams are interpreting the new, shorter and lighter regulations, with Mercedes aiming to leverage a new power unit and sustainable‑fuel partnership.

The details:

• Williams' final FW48 race livery drops on 3 Feb 2026; the fan‑chosen one‑off design, selected from 162 countries with nearly 55,000 votes, will appear in Barcelona pre‑season testing.
• The team finished 5th in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with 137 points, scoring podiums in Baku, Qatar and a sprint podium in Austin, and enters 2026 under team principal James Vowles.
• Mercedes will release high‑resolution renders of the W17 E PERFORMANCE on 22 Jan 2026, followed by a full digital launch on 2 Feb featuring drivers George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli, highlighting the all‑new power unit and Petronas‑developed sustainable fuel.

What's next:

• Williams will take the FW48 to its season‑opening race in Bahrain with the new race livery, hoping to build on 2025 momentum.
• Mercedes heads to Barcelona for pre‑season testing (26‑30 Jan) with the W17, using the data to fine‑tune aerodynamics and the new power unit before the Australian Grand Prix (6‑8 Mar).