All 10 Formula 1 teams have unveiled their new liveries for the 2023 season. Over the weekend, F1 fans cast more than 80,000 votes for their favorite colorways and designs. Mercedes won convincingly this year, opting to revert to their 2020 and 2021 black livery which secured 31% of the overall vote.
“It looks good, and I’m so happy that we’ve gone back also to the black livery,” said Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff. “Is she going to be as fast as she looks? I hope so, but definitely, there is a lot of excitement in putting the car finally on the road.”
The story behind this year’s livery stretches back to Mercedes’ original Silver Arrows race car which dominated between 1934 and 1939. In spring 1934, the Mercedes-Benz W25 reportedly recorded in at 751 kg, one kg over the maximum weight limit. acing manager Alfred Neubauer and driver Manfred von Brauchitisch claimed that they scratched off the white lead-based paint in order to get rid of the excess weight. This year, history repeats itself as Mercedes made a similar commitment to gaining the extra grams by leaving the car matte carbon. Additionally, the black colorway continues ongoing commitments to values the team established two years ago.
“We knew why we had a black car two years ago and it just came together… The main driving factor was to support the diversity and equality causes which are always close to our heart. The colour black became part of our DNA at that point, so we are pleased to return to it.”
Below is a breakdown of the 2023 votes below:
1. Mercedes – 31%
2. Ferrari – 19%
3. Alfa Roeo – 15%
4. Red Bull – 8%
5. Aston Martin – 7%
The Mercedes W14 race car will first appear on track in Bahrain during F1 testing on February 23 through 25.
Elsewhere in sports, Lamborghini taps IKEUCHI for cyberpunk Huracán STO “Time Chaser 111100.”
