Mercedes to run MANUFAKTUR-themed livery at the United States Grand Prix
Mercedes will change its look for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. According to RacingNews365 and Crash.net, the car carries blue elements in a tie-in with the MANUFAKTUR customisation programme of Mercedes-Benz, and the drivers get new race suits. The team arrives as the constructors' leader.
The championship-leading team will not look quite like itself in Texas. Mercedes has revealed a one-off livery for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, according to reports on 21 October from RacingNews365 and Crash.net.
What changes on the car
RacingNews365 reports that the sections of the W17 that are normally silver turn blue for the weekend, while the Petronas teal accents stay in place. Crash.net describes it as a subtler update with blue accents added to the existing scheme, and says George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will wear new race suits.
The design is a collaboration with MANUFAKTUR, the individualisation and customisation programme that Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach offer to buyers of their road cars. Neither report quotes the team or its drivers on the reason for the change.
Second change of look in a few weeks
It is not the first time Mercedes has altered its colours this autumn. As RacingNews365 notes, the team recently celebrated its Petronas partnership by swapping the silver on top of the car, including the nose, for teal accents at the race in Malaysia.
By the numbers
Mercedes comes to Austin as the dominant team of the season. Our race data shows 11 wins in the 17 grands prix so far: eight for Antonelli and three for Russell. The team has finished on the podium 22 times and has had a car in the top five at every one of the 17 races. In Singapore, the latest, Antonelli finished third.
Antonelli can be crowned champion in Austin, which keeps the attention on how the car performs as well as how it looks.
What comes next
Austin is round 18 of the season. The race starts on Sunday 25 October at 20:00 UTC, which is 21:00 in Vienna.
