Mercedes AMG F1 W09 Launch

The launch of the new Mercedes AMG F1 car took place at Silverstone on a cold but bright day.

The days of big launches are long gone, the most notable being Eddie Jordan hiring Cirque Du Soliel to launch is new car.

Mercedes did it this year better than most by taking over Silverstone and inviting the media to join in with the launch and televising the Ferrari launch in the afternoon.

Toto Wolff was the first to be interviewed discussing pretty much everything, from Lewis’ contract negotiations, which he hopes will be conclude by the start of the season, to the dreadful Halo, which he would like to chop off with a chainsaw to Liberty Media and the negotiations with them over the future of the sport.

Next up was Lewis Hamilton who appeared to be in good form, very relaxed having travelled the world chasing the snow and waves. He was looking forward to getting into the car and was very impressed how everyone works together to produce a car that only two people get to drive, him and Valtteri Bottas, who at this time was pounding round Silverstone.

As the interview concluded it was down to the No1 garage for the official launch. Everyone gathered around the end of what appeared to be a runway which ran part of the length of the garages and sure enough to the sound of snippets from the season, some history, countdown clock and a light show, the engine fired up and the car appeared in the distance and travelled the length of the garages with Valtteri at the wheel.

This was the first chance to see the car up close and to really see what the Halo looked like. Like it or hate it, it is there for safety reasons. The car did look good and was an evolution of last years but the Halo has added significant weight and raised the centre of gravity, making it a designers challenge to find ways of balancing this out.

Valtteri was next up for interviewing. He had a better off season, as he got to recharge his batteries, unlike last year where he spent the time familiarising himself with his new team. He felt better placed to challenge Lewis, who he said is beatable. Time will tell and there are 21 races to do so.