Mercedes doesn't change a winning car.
Or so little.
For the second year in a row, the single-seater, called W12, therefore sports a black livery, a tribute to the fight against racial discrimination dear to Lewis Hamilton.
For 2021, the traditional gray of the Silver Arrows simply tints the rear of the car, with the logo of sponsor AMG replacing the multitude of small stars featured last season.
"In the past, my main goal was just to win the championship (...) This year, it's about promoting diversity and making sure action is taken," said a very clear Hamilton on the subject and his intentions in a video launching the car.
Introducing the W12 Get your first look at our 2021 F1 car!
# WeLivePerformancepic.twitter.com / RiZEBTyarb
- Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@ MercedesAMGF1) March 2, 2021
The 36-year-old driver also explained the length of his new one-year contract, signed in early February: “I'm in a privileged position where I've achieved most of the things I wanted to achieve.
So there is no real need to plan too far into the future, I just wanted a year.
Then we can discuss the possibility of doing more, ”explained Hamilton, who may be tempted to compete under the new regulations in 2022, which promise a small revolution and more sporting fairness.
While waiting for this big change, most of the developments are frozen in 2021 and the Mercedes single-seater is therefore, like its competitors, very similar to that of last year except for new rules relating to aerodynamics.
Seven times world champion, co-holder of the title record with the German Michael Schumacher, Hamilton will have for the fifth consecutive year the Finnish Valtteri Bottas as a teammate.
Read also
Esteban Ocon: "The Alpine team has a bright future"
