F1 fans deal Mercedes clear verdict as W17 unleashed

Mercedes’ bold new W17 livery has received strong backing from Formula 1 fans, with 68% of respondents to a RacingNews365 poll expressing approval of its new design unveiled on January 22.

Just 32% of voters gave the livery the thumbs down, suggesting the eight-time constructors’ champions have struck the right chord with its 2026 aesthetic, despite early mixed reactions on social media.

The W17 marks a striking departure from Mercedes’ traditional silver identity, featuring a predominantly black base complemented by silver and Petronas turquoise accents.

A dynamic green flow line sweeps low across the car, while striped detailing on the sidepods has emerged as the livery’s most distinctive — and divisive — feature.

While some fans praised the stripes as "a nice upgrade on their classic livery," others compared them unfavourably to Adidas branding or felt the new Microsoft logo placement detracted from the overall effect.

The design represents Mercedes’ visual identity heading into F1’s major 2026 technical regulation changes, with team principal Toto Wolff describing the project as demanding “innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance.”

George Russell has made clear he expects the W17 will finally allow him to "fight for the title" after years navigating the inconsistencies of the ground-effect era, with the Briton set to lead Mercedes’ charge alongside Kimi Antonelli.

The team will hold an official season launch event on 2 February, where Russell and Antonelli will present the car ahead of pre-season testing.

Check out the poll results below!