Mercedes are certainly trying to get their fans excited for their upcoming car launch next Wednesday, where they will show to the world the challenger that they’ll be hoping will see them bounce back from a disappointing 2022 campaign.
2023 is a huge season for the Silver Arrows, given that it’ll answer an all-important question, was 2022 a blip?
The Germans have been so dominant in the turbo-hybrid era, which made their slip to third in the Constructors’ Championship last season a huge shock.
Some blamed the team’s return to using a silver livery as the reason why they suffered so many issues, with the team having used a black livery in 2020 and 2021 in their fight against racism and discrimination.
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A large portion of fans have asked for the team to bring the black livery back for 2023, something Mercedes have teased somewhat in recent social media posts.
Mercedes’ social media posts hint at a possible mix of black and silver; however, a recent announcement has potentially given away what colours will feature on the W14.
The Brackley-based team announced American company Sherwin-Williams as their new paint partner, with the announcement having been accompanied on social media by three paint pots.
The pots in the picture were silver, for the Silver Arrows, green for title partner PETRONAS, and red for INEOS, who are owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is a part-owner of the team.
“We are thrilled to support the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team in this new partnership, and are confident that our 150+ year history of quality and innovation will continue to be an asset to its car performance on and off the track,” said Brian Gallagher, president and general manager, automotive finishes division, Sherwin-Williams.
“Both organizations have a proven track record of delivering excellence in all aspects of their operations, pushing the technological boundaries of product performance, innovation and sustainability to propel our industry forward.”
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Mercedes’ chief commercial officer Richard Sanders added how “excited” the team are to welcome their new paint partner into the side, with the company having previously been the paint partner of Mercedes’ Formula E team.
“We’re excited to welcome Sherwin-Williams into our partner ecosystem as an official provider of automotive paint for our cars,” Sanders added.
“We have a shared commitment to innovation, performance and sustainability which makes for a natural partnership. Their reputation for excellence in the global automotive finishes industry is second to none and we look forward to working together in 2023 and beyond.”