F1 champion Mercedes’ 2020 car revealed ahead of track debut

Defending champions Mercedes has unveiled its latest car which could make Formula 1 history in the 2020 season. 

Mercedes became the latest F1 team to launch its 2020 contender by releasing digital renderings of its W11 machine on Friday morning, prior to carrying out a shakedown run at Silverstone. 

The German manufacturer, which had already revealed its 2020 livery on a 2019-spec showcase car at a sponsor press conference in London on Monday, is hoping to set standards never before achieved in F1 this year. 

Having clinched every single world title on offer since the start of the V6 hybrid era in 2014, Mercedes has the opportunity to surpass a record it shares with Ferrari by becoming the first team ever to win seven consecutive constructors’ championships. 

It could also eclipse its own record of six straight world championship doubles in 2020 if it is to prevail once more in claiming both the drivers’ and constructors’ crowns. 

Mercedes’ W11 will make its track bow on Friday at the venue of the British Grand Prix, with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas expected to share running. 

Hamilton heads into the upcoming campaign standing on the verge of equalling Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven drivers’ world titles, while he could also beat the German’s tally of 91 grand prix victories. 

Upon his return to Mercedes’ team factory in Brackley earlier this week, the 35-year-old Briton said he was feeling “on another level” physically and mentally heading into what could be yet another historic campaign. 

Mercedes will be the second team to conduct an initial shakedown run after Red Bull debuted its RB16 challenger at Silverstone on Wednesday. Teams are permitted to conduct two ‘filming days’ throughout the year outside of F1’s grand prix weekends. 

The newly re-branded AlphaTauri team - formerly known as Toro Rosso - will also take the covers off its new car on the same day as Mercedes in an evening launch in Austria.